UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 


FORM 10-Q
 

(Mark One)
    Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 20152016

OR

    Transition report pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File Number: 000-23329
 


Charles & Colvard, Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 


North Carolina56-1928817
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

170 Southport Drive
Morrisville, North Carolina
27560
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(919) 468-0399
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ý  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ý☒        No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
    
Non-accelerated filer☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting companyý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý

As of August 4, 2015,July 29, 2016, there were 21,111,58521,479,885 shares of the registrant’s common stock, no par value per share, outstanding.
 


CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.

FORM 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 20152016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  
Page
Number
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements 
 3
 4
 5
 6
Item 2.1922
Item 3.3238
Item 4.3238
 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.3338
Item 1A.3339
Item 6.3340
 3441
 
2

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements

CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
June 30, 2015
(unaudited)
  
December 31,
2014
  
June 30, 2016
(unaudited)
  
December 31,
2015
 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $5,254,242  $4,007,341  $11,111,309  $5,274,305 
Accounts receivable, net  4,462,286   5,510,253   2,228,545   3,852,651 
Inventory, net  13,404,996   13,320,639   10,121,500   10,739,798 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  905,306   602,850   922,035   701,105 
Assets related to discontinued operations  750   83,000 
Total current assets  24,026,830   23,441,083   24,384,139   20,650,859 
Long-term assets:                
Inventory, net  21,124,138   25,617,990   15,961,283   21,588,622 
Property and equipment, net  1,663,608   1,859,355   1,317,659   1,615,683 
Intangible assets, net  172,895   216,947   5,564   71,086 
Other assets  252,805   291,022   165,016   214,588 
Total long-term assets  23,213,446   27,985,314   17,449,522   23,489,979 
TOTAL ASSETS $47,240,276  $51,426,397  $41,833,661  $44,140,838 
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable $3,314,133  $3,286,086  $3,062,700  $3,323,148 
Accrued cooperative advertising  36,000   220,000   -   58,000 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  1,475,571   684,577   770,258   891,187 
Liabilities related to discontinued operations  183,000   349,000 
Total current liabilities  4,825,704   4,190,663   4,015,958   4,621,335 
Long-term liabilities:                
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  763,260   809,879   655,867   710,223 
Accrued income taxes  414,018   407,682   427,246   420,503 
Total long-term liabilities  1,177,278   1,217,561   1,083,113   1,130,726 
Total liabilities  6,002,982   5,408,224   5,099,071   5,752,061 
Commitments and contingencies                
Shareholders’ equity:                
Common stock, no par value  54,240,247   53,949,001 
Additional paid-in capital – stock-based compensation  12,283,365   11,628,503 
Common stock, no par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 21,507,235 and 21,111,585 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively  54,243,816   54,240,247 
Additional paid-in capital  13,918,550   13,280,920 
Accumulated deficit  (25,286,318)  (19,559,331)  (31,427,776)  (29,132,390)
Total shareholders’ equity  41,237,294   46,018,173   36,734,590   38,388,777 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $47,240,276  $51,426,397  $41,833,661  $44,140,838 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
3

CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Net sales $7,476,872  $7,841,647  $15,853,936  $13,909,200  $6,527,004  $6,183,535  $17,920,275  $13,199,621 
Costs and expenses:                                
Cost of goods sold  6,461,537   5,324,981   11,305,440   8,988,023   3,894,094   6,092,858   13,057,982   10,521,481 
Sales and marketing  3,517,870   2,171,614   6,491,234   4,366,225   1,803,010   1,787,930   3,331,595   3,145,874 
General and administrative  1,533,948   2,376,466   3,768,161   3,752,681   1,693,123   1,191,879   3,135,818   3,057,242 
Research and development  7,043   9,514   9,104   11,501   980   7,043   2,848   9,104 
Loss on abandonment of assets  -   -   -   2,201 
Total costs and expenses  11,520,398   9,882,575   21,573,939   17,120,631   7,391,207   9,079,710   19,528,243   16,733,701 
Loss from operations  (4,043,526)  (2,040,928)  (5,720,003)  (3,211,431)  (864,203)  (2,896,175)  (1,607,968)  (3,534,080)
Other income (expense):                                
Interest income  -   20   11   49   -   -   -   11 
Interest expense  (767)  (188)  (784)  (318)  (5)  (767)  (1,512)  (784)
Loss on abandonment of property and equipment  (115,548)  -   (115,548)  - 
Gain on sale of long-term assets  -   -   125   -   -   -   -   125 
Total other expense, net  (767)  (168)  (648)  (269)  (115,553)  (767)  (117,060)  (648)
Loss before income taxes  (4,044,293)  (2,041,096)  (5,720,651)  (3,211,700)
Income tax net expense  (3,243)  (4,152,987)  (6,336)  (4,045,777)
Loss before income taxes from continuing operations  (979,756)  (2,896,942)  (1,725,028)  (3,534,728)
Income tax net expense from continuing operations  (3,500)  (3,243)  (6,743)  (6,336)
Net loss from continuing operations  (983,256)  (2,900,185)  (1,731,771)  (3,541,064)
                
Discontinued operations:                
Loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (579,078)  (2,185,923)
Gain on sale of assets from discontinued operations  -   -   15,463   - 
Net loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (563,615)  (2,185,923)
Net loss $(4,047,536) $(6,194,083) $(5,726,987) $(7,257,477) $(987,964) $(4,047,536) $(2,295,386) $(5,726,987)
                                
Net loss per common share:                                
Basic $(0.20) $(0.31) $(0.28) $(0.36)
Diluted $(0.20) $(0.31) $(0.28) $(0.36)
Basic – continuing operations $(0.05) $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.17)
Basic – discontinued operations  (0.00)  (0.06)  (0.03)  (0.11)
Basic – total $(0.05) $(0.20) $(0.11) $(0.28)
                
Diluted – continuing operations $(0.05) $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.17)
Diluted – discontinued operations  (0.00)  (0.06)  (0.03)  (0.11)
Diluted – total $(0.05) $(0.20) $(0.11) $(0.28)
                                
Weighted average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share:                       
Basic  20,326,577   20,262,299   20,217,646   20,229,979   20,966,256   20,326,577   20,848,337   20,217,646 
Diluted  20,326,577   20,262,299   20,217,646   20,229,979   20,966,256   20,326,577   20,848,337   20,217,646 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
4

CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

 Six Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2016  2015 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net loss $(5,726,987) $(7,257,477) $(1,731,771) $(3,541,064)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization  440,676   588,745   330,147   387,543 
Stock-based compensation  773,342   810,490   594,728   676,664 
Provision for uncollectible accounts  19,000   682,725   (59,558)  19,000 
Provision for sales returns  (581,000)  (845,000)  (295,000)  (581,000)
Provision for inventory reserves  615,000   69,000   55,000   615,000 
Provision for deferred income taxes  -   4,039,723 
Loss on abandonment of assets  -   2,201 
Loss on abandonment of property and equipment  115,548   - 
Gain on sale of long-term assets  (125)  -   -   (125)
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  1,609,967   2,590,297   1,978,664   1,609,967 
Inventory  3,794,495   868,994   6,190,637   3,794,495 
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net  (264,239)  (394,745)  (171,358)  (266,933)
Accounts payable  28,047   (10,651)  (260,448)  (77,039)
Accrued cooperative advertising  (184,000)  8,000   (58,000)  (184,000)
Accrued income taxes  6,336   6,054   6,743   6,336 
Other accrued liabilities  744,375   647,581   (175,285)  713,860 
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations  6,520,047   3,172,704 
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations  (935,326)  (1,897,817)
Net cash provided by operating activities  1,274,887   1,805,937   5,584,721   1,274,887 
                
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Purchases of property and equipment  (155,185)  (956,666)  (118,433)  (145,733)
Patent, license rights, and trademark costs  (45,742)  (59,863)  (255)  (45,742)
Proceeds from sale of assets  175   - 
Net cash used in investing activities  (200,752)  (1,016,529)
Proceeds from sale of long-term assets  -   175 
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations  (118,688)  (191,300)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations  368,671   (9,452)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  249,983   (200,752)
                
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Stock option exercises  172,766   -   2,300   172,766 
Net cash provided by financing activities  172,766   - 
Net cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations  2,300   172,766 
                
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  1,246,901   789,408   5,837,004   1,246,901 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  4,007,341   2,573,405   5,274,305   4,007,341 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $5,254,242  $3,362,813  $11,111,309  $5,254,242 
                
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:                
Cash paid during the period for interest $784  $318  $1,512  $784 
Cash paid during the period for income taxes $-  $-  $-  $- 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
5

CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

1.DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (the “Company”), a North Carolina corporation founded in 1995, manufactures, markets, and distributes Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® jewels (hereinafter referred to as moissanite or moissanite jewels), and finished jewelry featuring moissanite and fashion finished jewelry for sale in the worldwide jewelry market.  Moissanite, also known by its chemical name of silicon carbide (“SiC”)(SiC), is a rare mineral first discovered in a meteor crater.  Because naturally occurring SiC crystals are too small for commercial use, larger crystals must be grown in a laboratory.  Leveraging its advantage of being the original and leading worldwide source of created moissanite jewels, the Company’s strategy is to establish itself with reputable, high-quality, and sophisticated brands and to position moissanite as an ethically-sourced, affordable, and luxurious alternative to other gemstones such as diamond. The Company believes this is possible due to moissanite’s exceptional brilliance, fire, durability, and rarity like no other jewel available on the market. The Company sells loose moissanite jewels and finished jewelry at wholesale to distributors, manufacturers, and retailers and at retail to end consumers through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, Moissanite.com, LLC and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC.LLC (until March 2016), and through third-party marketplaces.

In February 2016, the Company made the strategic decision to explore a potential divestiture of its direct-to-consumer home party business previously operated through its Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (dba Lulu Avenue®) subsidiary.  After careful analysis of the Company’s core competencies, go-to-market strategies, and intent to advance toward profitability, the management team and Board of Directors determined a divestiture of this distribution channel to be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. On March 4, 2016, the Company and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC entered into an asset purchase agreement with Yanbal USA, Inc. (“Yanbal”), under which Yanbal purchased certain assets related to the Company’s direct-to-consumer home party business for $500,000 and assumed certain liabilities related to such assets.  A more detailed description of this transaction is included in Note 12, “Discontinued Operations.”

2.BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. However, certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in complete financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed, or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.2016.

The condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited. The balance sheet as of December 31, 20142015 is derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. The accompanying statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes, together with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015 filed with the SEC on March 13, 20158, 2016 (the “2014“2015 Annual Report”).

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries Moissanite.com, LLC, formed in 2011; Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC, formed in 2011; and Charles & Colvard (HK) Ltd., the Company’s Hong Kong subsidiary that became a dormant entity in the second quarter of 2009 and the operations of which ceased in 2008. All intercompany accounts have been eliminated.

Significant Accounting Policies - In the opinion of the Company’s management, the significant accounting policies used for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 are consistent with those used for the year ended December 31, 2014.2015. Accordingly, please refer to the 20142015 Annual Report for the Company’s significant accounting policies.

6

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates impacting the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements relate to valuation and classification of inventories, accounts receivable reserves, depreciable lives of property and equipment, deferred tax assets, uncertain tax positions, stock compensation expense, and cooperative advertising. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Reclassifications - Certain amounts in the prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, primarily amounts described in Note 3, “Segment Information and Geographic Data” and Note 12, “Discontinued Operations” related to changes in the Company’s reportable segments.
6


Recently Adopted/Issued Accounting Pronouncements - In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued a new accounting standard that supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of the new standard is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. The new standard defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP.  The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016,2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting the standard recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures).  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which the Company will adopt the standard in 2017.2018.

In August 2014,July 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance intendedthat will require an entity to define management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Under U.S. GAAP, financial statements are preparedmeasure inventory valued under the presumption thataverage cost method from the reporting organization will continuelower of cost or market to operatethe lower of cost or net realizable value, with net realizable value defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. This guidance is effective on a going concern, except in limited circumstances. The going concern basis of accounting is critical to financial reporting because it establishes the fundamentalprospective basis for measuringpublic entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period.  The Company does not anticipate early adoption at this time and classifying assets and liabilities. Currently, U.S. GAAP lacksis currently evaluating the impact of this guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt abouton its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern or to provide related footnote disclosures. ThisFASB issued new accounting guidance provides guidance to an organization’s management, with principlesthat requires that deferred tax assets and definitions that are intended to reduce diversityliabilities be classified as noncurrent in the timing and contenta classified statement of disclosures that are commonly provided by organizations today in the financial statement footnotes. This new accountingposition. The guidance is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods endingbeginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual report period. The amendments in this guidance may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company adopted this standard as of December 31, 2015 with prospective application. As a result, the Company reclassified its deferred tax assets classified as current to noncurrent and its deferred tax liabilities classified as current to noncurrent in its December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is permittedrequired for annuallessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or interim reporting periods for whichentered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, have not previously been issued.with certain practical expedients available.  The Company does not expectis currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
7

In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance that changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as the classification of related matters in the statement of cash flows. The update is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently evaluating this new accounting guidance and the impact it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

All other new and recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements have been deemed to be not relevant to the Company and therefore are not expected to have any impact once adopted.

3.SEGMENT INFORMATION AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA

The Company reports segment information based on the “management” approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by management for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s operating and reportable segments.

During 2014,Previously, the Company began managingmanaged its business primarily through the three distribution channels that it usesused to sell its product lines, loose jewels and finished jewelry.jewelry, which included Charles and Colvard Direct, LLC. Accordingly, the Company determined its three operating and reportable segments to be wholesale distribution transacted through the parent entity, and the two direct-to-consumer distribution channels transacted through the Company’s wholly owned operating subsidiaries, Moissanite.com, LLC and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC.  On March 4, 2016, the Company divested its direct-to-consumer home party business previously operated through its Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (dba Lulu Avenue®) subsidiary.  As a result, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company began managing its business primarily through its two continuing distribution channels. Accordingly, the Company is presenting segment results for the two continuing operating and reportable segments within this footnote and the segment results for Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC within Note 12, “Discontinued Operations” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The accounting policies of these three segments are the same as those described in Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 20142015 Annual Report.

Previously, the Company determined it managed its business through two distribution channels, wholesale distribution and direct-to-consumer.  While the Company has always managed its businesses as three separate operating segments, it previously aggregated the Moissanite.com, LLC and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC operating segments into a single reportable segment for reporting purposes.  The two wholly owned operating subsidiaries that previously were aggregated under the direct-to-consumer segment are now each being presented as a separate reportable segment.  The Company believes aggregation of the two subsidiaries into one reportable segment for reporting purposes is no longer warranted due to changes in how it sources product and sells directly to consumers, including changes in the management structure, strategic initiatives, and changes in sales models made during the year ended December 31, 2014 for each of the two wholly owned subsidiaries.  Certain amounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation as a result of this change in reportable segments.
7

The Company evaluates the financial performance of its segments based on net sales; product line gross profit, or the excess of product line sales over product line cost of goods sold; and operating income (loss). Product line cost of goods sold is defined as product cost of goods sold in each of the Company’s wholesale distribution and two direct-to-consumer distribution operating segmentssegment excluding non-capitalized expenses from the Company’s manufacturing and production control departments, comprising personnel costs, depreciation, rent, utilities, and corporate overhead allocations; freight out; inventory valuation allowance adjustments; and other inventory adjustments, comprising costs of quality issues, damaged goods, and inventory write-offs.

The Company allocates certain general and administrative expenses from its parent entity to its two direct-to-consumer distribution segmentssegment primarily based on net sales and number of employees.employees to arrive at segment operating loss. Unallocated expenses, which also include interest and taxes, remain in the parent entity’s wholesale distribution segment.

8

Summary financial information by reportable segment is as follows:

   Three Months Ended June 30, 2015  Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
  Total  Wholesale  Moissanite.com  Total 
Net sales                 
Loose jewels $3,628,160  $138,148  $-  $3,766,308  $4,826,839  $129,986  $4,956,825 
Finished jewelry  1,294,494   1,122,732   1,293,338   3,710,564   544,816   1,025,363   1,570,179 
Total $4,922,654  $1,260,880  $1,293,338  $7,476,872  $5,371,655  $1,155,349  $6,527,004 
                            
Product line cost of goods sold                            
Loose jewels $3,040,470  $21,748  $65  $3,062,283  $2,351,579  $18,244  $2,369,823 
Finished jewelry  1,204,174   533,659   259,089   1,996,922   775,670   420,004   1,195,674 
Total $4,244,644  $555,407  $259,154  $5,059,205  $3,127,249  $438,248  $3,565,497 
                            
Product line gross profit                            
Loose jewels $587,690  $116,400  $(65) $704,025  $2,475,260  $111,742  $2,587,002 
Finished jewelry  90,320   589,073   1,034,249   1,713,642   (230,854)  605,359   374,505 
Total $678,010  $705,473  $1,034,184  $2,417,667  $2,244,406  $717,101  $2,961,507 
                            
Operating loss $(2,617,570) $(278,605) $(1,147,351) $(4,043,526) $(268,076) $(596,127) $(864,203)
                            
Depreciation and amortization $163,209  $31,987  $26,752  $221,948  $167,553  $16,103  $183,656 
                            
Capital expenditures $35,636  $-  $2,445  $38,081  $51,648  $28,280  $79,928 

   Three Months Ended June 30, 2014  Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
  Total  Wholesale  Moissanite.com  Total 
Net sales                 
Loose jewels $3,837,012  $171,819  $1,508  $4,010,339  $3,628,161  $138,148  $3,766,309 
Finished jewelry  3,012,372   536,201   282,735   3,831,308   1,294,494   1,122,732   2,417,226 
Total $6,849,384  $708,020  $284,243  $7,841,647  $4,922,655  $1,260,880  $6,183,535 
                            
Product line cost of goods sold                            
Loose jewels $2,040,944  $24,902  $444  $2,066,290  $3,040,470  $21,748  $3,062,218 
Finished jewelry  2,377,715   287,023   82,626   2,747,364   1,204,174   533,659   1,737,833 
Total $4,418,659  $311,925  $83,070  $4,813,654  $4,244,644  $555,407  $4,800,051 
                            
Product line gross profit                            
Loose jewels $1,796,068  $146,917  $1,064  $1,944,049  $587,691  $116,400  $704,091 
Finished jewelry  634,657   249,178   200,109   1,083,944   90,320   589,073   679,393 
Total $2,430,725  $396,095  $201,173  $3,027,993  $678,011  $705,473  $1,383,484 
                            
Operating loss $(1,008,146) $(331,243) $(701,539) $(2,040,928) $(2,617,570) $(278,605) $(2,896,175)
                            
Depreciation and amortization $214,021  $71,093  $25,833  $310,947  $163,209  $31,987  $195,196 
                            
Capital expenditures $928,341  $-  $-  $928,341  $35,636  $-  $35,636 
 
89

   Six Months Ended June 30, 2015  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
  Total  Wholesale  Moissanite.com  Total 
Net sales                 
Loose jewels $7,316,034  $271,404  $-  $7,587,438  $14,351,193  $246,449  $14,597,642 
Finished jewelry  3,518,781   2,093,402   2,654,315   8,266,498   1,081,286   2,241,347   3,322,633 
Total $10,834,815  $2,364,806  $2,654,315  $15,853,936  $15,432,479  $2,487,796  $17,920,275 
                            
Product line cost of goods sold                            
Loose jewels $5,242,573  $40,819  $65  $5,283,457  $10,158,834  $25,049  $10,183,883 
Finished jewelry  2,431,984   1,014,019   578,864   4,024,867   1,019,882   940,899   1,960,781 
Total $7,674,557  $1,054,838  $578,929  $9,308,324  $11,178,716  $965,948  $12,144,664 
                            
Product line gross profit                            
Loose jewels $2,073,461  $230,585  $(65) $2,303,981  $4,192,359  $221,400  $4,413,759 
Finished jewelry  1,086,797   1,079,383   2,075,451   4,241,631   61,404   1,300,448   1,361,852 
Total $3,160,258  $1,309,968  $2,075,386  $6,545,612  $4,253,763  $1,521,848  $5,775,611 
                            
Operating loss $(2,851,346) $(682,734) $(2,185,923) $(5,720,003) $(797,562) $(810,406) $(1,607,968)
                            
Depreciation and amortization $323,849  $63,694  $53,133  $440,676  $299,601  $30,546  $330,147 
                            
Capital expenditures $145,200  $533  $9,452  $155,185  $88,551  $29,882  $118,433 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 2014  Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
  Total  Wholesale  Moissanite.com  Total 
Net sales                 
Loose jewels $7,370,756  $318,761  $1,508  $7,691,025  $7,316,034  $271,404  $7,587,438 
Finished jewelry  4,632,243   1,097,467   488,465   6,218,175   3,518,781   2,093,402   5,612,183 
Total $12,002,999  $1,416,228  $489,973  $13,909,200  $10,834,815  $2,364,806  $13,199,621 
                            
Product line cost of goods sold                            
Loose jewels $3,816,079  $47,175  $444  $3,863,698  $5,242,573  $40,819  $5,283,392 
Finished jewelry  3,657,816   581,908   145,888   4,385,612   2,431,984   1,014,019   3,446,003 
Total $7,473,895  $629,083  $146,332  $8,249,310  $7,674,557  $1,054,838  $8,729,395 
                            
Product line gross profit                            
Loose jewels $3,554,677  $271,586  $1,064  $3,827,327  $2,073,461  $230,585  $2,304,046 
Finished jewelry  974,427   515,559   342,577   1,832,563   1,086,797   1,079,383   2,166,180 
Total $4,529,104  $787,145  $343,641  $5,659,890  $3,160,258  $1,309,968  $4,470,226 
                            
Operating loss $(1,133,003) $(736,014) $(1,342,414) $(3,211,431) $(2,851,346) $(682,734) $(3,534,080)
                            
Depreciation and amortization $393,693  $144,252  $50,800  $588,745  $323,849  $63,694  $387,543 
                            
Capital expenditures $956,666  $-  $-  $956,666  $145,200  $533  $145,733 
 
910

   June 30, 2015 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
 Total 
         
Total assets $47,064,928  $87,091  $88,257  $47,240,276 
June 30, 2016 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com Total 
          
Total assets $41,674,640  $158,271  $41,832,911 

   December 31, 2014 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com  
Charles &
Colvard Direct
 Total 
         
Total assets $51,183,888  $128,049  $114,460  $51,426,397 
 December 31, 2015 
 Wholesale  Moissanite.com Total 
          
Total assets $43,882,939  $174,899  $44,057,838 

A reconciliation of the Company’s product line cost of goods sold to cost of goods sold as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements is as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Product line cost of goods sold $5,059,205  $4,813,654  $9,308,324  $8,249,310  $3,565,497  $4,800,051  $12,144,664  $8,729,395 
Non-capitalized manufacturing and production control expenses  500,460   256,144   647,572   411,167   331,533   500,460   742,299   647,572 
Freight out  111,256   76,077   201,990   135,976   91,031   79,534   163,089   147,998 
Inventory valuation allowances  411,000   45,000   615,000   69,000   -   411,000   55,000   615,000 
Other inventory adjustments  379,616   134,106   532,554   122,570   (93,967)  301,813   (47,040)  381,516 
Cost of goods sold $6,461,537  $5,324,981  $11,305,440  $8,988,023  $3,894,094  $6,092,858  $13,057,982  $10,521,481 

The Company’s net inventories by product line maintained in the parent entity’s wholesale distribution segment are as follows:

 June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Loose jewels          
Raw materials $6,103,326  $4,658,692  $4,550,319  $6,741,712 
Work-in-process  5,277,481   5,752,103   8,014,873   5,516,799 
Finished goods  17,769,727   21,495,873   9,438,017   15,877,436 
Finished goods on consignment  75,375   46,284   44,861   55,388 
Total $29,225,909  $31,952,952  $22,048,070  $28,191,335 
                
Finished jewelry                
Raw materials $164,193  $258,707  $308,415  $190,427 
Work-in-process  507,480   540,576   473,846   514,946 
Finished goods  4,481,665   5,557,417   3,050,221   3,193,569 
Finished goods on consignment  109,904   578,200   162,555   200,613 
Total $5,263,242  $6,934,900  $3,995,037  $4,099,555 
 
10

Supplies inventories of approximately $40,000 and $51,000$38,000 at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively, included in finished goods inventories in the condensed consolidated financial statements are omitted from inventories by product line because they are used in both product lines and are not maintained separately.  The Company’s twocontinuing operating subsidiaries comprising the two direct-to-consumer distribution segments carrysubsidiary carries no net inventories, and inventory is transferred without intercompany markup from the parent entity’s wholesale distribution segment as product line cost of goods sold when sold to the end consumer.

The Company recognizes sales by geographic area based on the country in which the customer is based. A portion of the Company’s international wholesale distribution segment sales represents products sold internationally that may be re-imported to United States (“U.S.”) retailers. Sales to international end consumers made by the Company’s two direct-to-consumer distribution segments aresegment, Moissanite.com LLC, is included in U.S. sales because products are shipped and invoiced to a U.S.-based intermediary party that assumes all international shipping and credit risks. The following presents certain data by geographic area:
11

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Net sales            
United States $5,450,060  $5,662,932  $16,092,042  $12,064,300 
International  1,076,944   520,603   1,828,233   1,135,321 
Total $6,527,004  $6,183,535  $17,920,275  $13,199,621 

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
 2015  2014  2015  2014 
Net sales        
Property and equipment, net      
United States $6,956,269  $7,267,441  $14,718,615  $12,976,474  $1,317,659  $1,615,683 
International  520,603   574,206   1,135,321   932,726   -   - 
Total $7,476,872  $7,841,647  $15,853,936  $13,909,200  $1,317,659  $1,615,683 

  June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014 
Property and equipment, net    
United States $1,663,608  $1,859,355 
International  -   - 
Total $1,663,608  $1,859,355 

 June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Intangible assets, net          
United States $26,978  $39,050  $5,564  $15,362 
International  145,917   177,897   -   55,724 
Total $172,895  $216,947  $5,564  $71,086 

4.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are obtained from independent sources and can be validated by a third party, whereas unobservable inputs reflect assumptions regarding what a third party would use in pricing an asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy consists of three levels based on the reliability of inputs, as follows:

·Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

·Level 2 - inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable

·Level 3 - unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data

The Company evaluates assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring and non-recurring basis to determine the appropriate level to classify them for each reporting period. This determination requires significant judgments to be made by management of the Company. The financial instruments identified as subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis are cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, and trade accounts payable, and accrued expenses.payable. All financial instruments are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
Assets that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include property and equipment, leasehold improvements, and intangible assets, comprising patents license rights, and trademarks. These items are recognized at fair value when they are considered to be impaired. Level 3 inputs are primarily based on the estimated future cash flows of the asset determined by market inquiries to establish fair market value of used machinery or future revenue expected to be generated with the assistance of patents license rights, and trademarks.
 
12

5.INVENTORIES

The Company’s total inventories, net of reserves, consisted of the following as of June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014:2015:

 June 30, 2015  December 31, 2014  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Raw materials $6,267,519  $4,917,399  $4,858,734  $6,932,139 
Work-in-process  5,784,961   6,292,679   8,488,719   6,031,745 
Finished goods  23,795,375   27,985,067   13,909,914   20,441,535 
Finished goods on consignment  210,279   677,484   247,416   293,001 
Less inventory reserves  (1,529,000)  (934,000)  (1,422,000)  (1,370,000)
Total $34,529,134  $38,938,629  $26,082,783  $32,328,420 
                
Current portion $13,404,996  $13,320,639  $10,121,500  $10,739,798 
Long-term portion  21,124,138   25,617,990   15,961,283   21,588,622 
Total $34,529,134  $38,938,629  $26,082,783  $32,328,420 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on an average cost basis. Inventory costs include direct material and labor, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, and warehousing costs. Any inventory on hand at the measurement date in excess of the Company’s current requirements based on historical and anticipated levels of sales is classified as long-term on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s classification of its inventory as either short- or long-term inventory requires it to estimate the portion of on-hand inventory that can be realized over the next 12 months and does not include precious metal, labor, and other inventory purchases expected to be both purchased and realized in cost of goods sold over the next 12 months.

The Company’s work-in-process inventories include raw SiC crystals on which processing costs, such as labor and sawing, have been incurred; and components, such as metal castings and finished good moissanite jewels, that have been issued to jobs in the manufacture of finished jewelry. The Company’s moissanite jewel manufacturing process involves the production of intermediary shapes, called “preforms,” that vary depending upon the size and shape of the finished jewel. To maximize manufacturing efficiencies, preforms may be made in advance of current finished inventory needs but remain in work-in-process inventories. As of June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, work-in-process inventories issued to active production jobs approximated $1.40$6.01 million and $2.05$3.02 million, respectively.

The Company’s jewels do not degrade in quality over time and inventory generally consists of the shapes and sizes most commonly used in the jewelry industry. In addition, the majority of jewel inventory is not mounted in finished jewelry settings and is therefore not subject to fashion trends nor is obsolescence a significant factor. The Company has very small market penetration in the worldwide jewelry market, and the Company hashad the exclusive right in the U.S. through mid-2015August 2015 and has the exclusive right in many other countries through mid-2016into the third quarter of 2016 to produce and sell created SiC for use in jewelry applications. During the three monthsyear ended June 30,December 31, 2015, management identified an opportunity to sell approximately $2.28 million of slow movingslow-moving loose jewel inventory of less desirable quality.  As a result of this sale and feedback from customers on the value of some of these goods, the Company determined a lower of cost or market reserve of $103,000$528,000 and $352,000 as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, was required on some of the remaining inventory of these lower quality goods.  In view of the foregoing factors, management has concluded that no excess or obsolete loose jewel inventory reserve requirements existed as of June 30, 2015 on goods other than the lower quality goods noted previously.

The Company manufactures finished jewelry featuring moissanite. Relative to loose moissanite jewels, finished jewelry is more fashion oriented and subject to styling trends that could render certain designs obsolete. The majority of the Company’s finished jewelry featuring moissanite is held in inventory for resale and consists of such basic designs as stud earrings, solitaire and three-stone rings, pendants, and bracelets that tend not to be subject to significant obsolescence risk due to their classic styling. In addition, the Company manufactures small individual quantities of designer-inspired moissanite fashion jewelry as part of its sample line that are used in the selling process to its wholesale customers.
 
1213

In 2011,Prior to March 2016, the Company began purchasingpurchased fashion finished jewelry comprised ofcomprising base metals and non-precious gemstones for sale through Lulu Avenue®, the Company’s former direct-to-consumer home party division of itsthe Company’s wholly owned operating subsidiary, Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC. This finished jewelry iswas fashion oriented and subject to styling trends that maycould change with each catalog season, of which there are severalgenerally two each year. Typically in the jewelry industry, slow-moving or discontinued lines are sold as closeouts or liquidated in alternative sales channels.  The CompanyManagement reviews the finished jewelry inventory on an ongoing basis for any lower of cost or market and obsolescence issues.  The CompanyManagement identified certain fashion finished jewelry inventory that could not be sold due to damage or branding issues and established an obsolescence reserve of $536,000$155,000 as of June 30, 20152016 and $250,000$164,000 as of December 31, 2014,2015, for the carrying costs in excess of any estimated scrap values.  As of June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014, the Company2015, management identified $86,000 and $31,000, respectively ofcertain finished jewelry featuring moissanite that requiredwas obsolete due to damage and other factors that indicate the finished jewelry is unsaleable, and established an obsolescence reserve.reserve of $185,000 and $225,000, respectively, for the carrying costs in excess of any estimated scrap values.

Periodically, the Company ships finished goods inventory to wholesale customers on consignment terms. Under these terms, the customer assumes the risk of loss and has an absolute right of return for a specified period. Finished goods on consignment at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 are net of shrinkage reserves of $25,000$39,000 and $53,000,$37,000, respectively, to allow for certain loose jewels and finished jewelry on consignment with wholesale customers that may not be returned or may be returned in a condition that does not meet the Company’s current grading or quality standards.

Total net loose jewel inventories at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, including inventory on consignment net of reserves, were $29.23$22.05 million and $31.95$28.19 million, respectively. The loose jewel inventories at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 include shrinkage reserves of $142,000$47,000 and $17,000,$50,000, respectively, with $8,000which includes $6,000 and $17,000$10,000 of shrinkage reserves on inventory on consignment at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. Loose jewel inventories at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 also include recutsrecut reserves of $366,000$400,000 and $216,000,$449,000, respectively.

Total net jewelry inventories at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, including inventory on consignment net of reserves, finished jewelry featuring moissanite manufactured by the Company, since entering the finished jewelry business in 2010, and fashion finished jewelry purchased and owned by the Company which was made for sale through Lulu Avenue®, were $5.26$4.00 million and $6.93$4.10 million, respectively. Jewelry inventories consist primarily of finished goods, a portion of which the Company acquired as part of a January 2009 settlement agreement with a former manufacturer customer to reduce the outstanding receivable to the Company. Due to the lack of a plan to market this inventory at that time, a jewelry inventory reserve was established to reduce the majority of the acquired jewelry inventory value to scrap value, or the amount the Company would expect to obtain by melting the gold in the jewelry and returning to loose-jewel finished goods inventory those jewels that meet grading standards. The scrap reserve established for this acquired inventory at the time of the agreement is adjusted at each reporting period for the market price of gold and has generally declined as the associated jewelry is sold down. At June 30, 2015, the balance decreased to $66,000 from $101,000 at December 31, 2014 as a result of melting a majority of the jewelry, some sell down of the inventory during the quarter, and change in gold prices. Because the finished jewelry the Company began manufacturing in 2010 after it entered that business was made pursuant to an operational plan to market and sell the inventory, it is not subject to this reserve.  The finished jewelry inventories at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 also include shrinkage reserves of $167,000$93,000 and $192,000,$95,000, respectively, including shrinkage reserves of $17,000$33,000 and $36,000$27,000 on inventory on consignment, respectively; and a repairs reserve of $63,000$14,000 and $127,000,$31,000, respectively.

The need for adjustments to inventory reserves is evaluated on a period-by-period basis.

6.INCOME TAXES

The Company recognized an income tax net expense of approximately $4,000 and $3,000, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, compared to an income tax net expense of approximately $4.15 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.  The Company recognized an income tax net expense of approximatelyand $7,000 and $6,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, compared to an incomefor estimated tax, net expense of $4.05 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.
13


As of each reporting date, the Company’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact its view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. The Company had previously considered various strategic alternatives that would reduce its pre-tax operating losses, resulting in management determining that a valuation allowance was not necessary at March 31, 2014.  During the three months endedAs of June 30, 2014,2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company’s management determined that such strategic alternatives were no longer in the best interest of the Company.  Accordingly, the Company’s management concluded that the positive evidence was no longer sufficient to offset available negative evidence primarily as a result of the pre-tax operating losses incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2014, and forecastedcontinued to continue through the remainder of 2014.  As a result, the Company’s management concluded thatexist to conclude it was uncertain that the Company would have sufficient future taxable income to utilize its deferred tax assets, and therefore, the Company establishedmaintained a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets resulting in a tax expenseassets.
14


For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized $3,000 and $6,000, respectively, of income tax expense for estimated tax, penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company also recognized approximately $3,000 and $6,000, respectively, of income tax expense for estimated tax, penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.

7.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitments

In March 2004, the Company entered into a seven-year lease, for approximately 16,500 square feet of mixed-use space from an unaffiliated third party. In January 2011, the Company amended the lease to extend the term through January 2017 with a one-time option to terminate the lease effective as of July 31, 2014. The Company exercised this right to terminate the lease by giving notice to the lessor prior to October 31, 2013.  The cost to terminate the lease effective July 31, 2014 was approximately $112,000, which the Company paid at the time notice was given to terminate the lease.  This amount reflects all unamortized lease transaction costs, including, without limitation, all rent abated since January 1, 2011, plus two months’ rent at the then-current rental rate.  On December 9, 2013, the Company entered into a Lease Agreement, as amended on December 23, 2013 and April 15, 2014 (the “Lease Agreement”), for a new corporate headquarters, which occupies approximately 36,350 square feet of office, storage, and light manufacturing space. The Company took possession of the leased property on May 23, 2014 once certain improvements to the leased space were completed, and did not have access to the property before this date.  These improvements and other lease signing and moving incentives offered by the landlord totaled approximately $550,000 and $73,000, respectively, which will be amortized over the life of the lease until October 31, 2021.  Included in the Lease Agreement is a seven-month rent abatement period effective June 2014 through December 2014.

The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis, giving consideration to the rent holidays and escalations, the lease signing and moving allowance paid to the Company, and the rent abatement.

As of June 30, 2015,2016, the Company’s future minimum payments under the operating leases were as follows:

2015 $280,076 
2016  569,138  $287,778 
2017  584,789   584,789 
2018  600,871   600,871 
2019  617,395   617,395 
2020  634,373 
Thereafter  1,176,330   541,957 
Total $3,828,599  $3,267,163 

Rent expense for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 was approximately $128,000$134,000 and $84,000,$128,000, respectively. Rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 was approximately $255,000$276,000 and $115,000,$255,000, respectively.

Purchase Commitments

On June 6, 1997, the Company entered into an amended and restated exclusive supply agreement with Cree, Inc. (“Cree”). The exclusive supply agreement had an initial term of ten years that was extended in January 2005 to July 2015. In connection with the amended and restated exclusive supply agreement, the Company committed to purchase from Cree a minimum of 50%, by dollar volume, of its raw material SiC crystal requirements. If the Company’s orders required Cree to expand beyond specified production levels, the Company committed to purchase certain minimum quantities. Effective February 8, 2013, the Company entered into an amendment to a prior letter agreement with Cree, which provided a framework for the Company’s purchases of SiC crystals under the amended and restated exclusive supply agreement. Pursuant to this amendment, the Company agreed to purchase at least $4.00 million of SiC crystals in an initial new order. After the initial new order, the Company agreed to issue non-cancellable, quarterly orders that must equal or exceed a set minimum order quantity. The total purchase commitment under the amendment (as subsequently amended) until July 2015, including the initial new order, was dependent upon the grade of the material and ranged between approximately $7.64 million and approximately $18.56 million.
On December 12, 2014, the Company entered into a new exclusive supply agreement (the “Supply Agreement”) with Cree (the “New Supply Agreement”, Inc. (“Cree”), which superseded and replaced (with respect toits SiC raw materials ordered subsequent to the effective date of the New Supply Agreement) the exclusive supply agreement that was set to expire in 2015.supplier.  Under the New Supply Agreement, subject to certain terms and conditions, the Company agreed to exclusively purchase from Cree, and Cree agreed to exclusively supply, 100% of the Company’s required SiC materials in quarterly installments that must equal or exceed a set minimum order quantity. The initial term of the New Supply Agreement will expire on June 24, 2018, unless extended by the parties. The Company also has one option to unilaterally extend the term of the agreement for an additional two-year period, subject to certain conditions.  The Company’s total purchase commitment under the New Supply Agreement until June 2018 is dependent upon the size of the SiC material and ranges between approximately $29.6 million and approximately $31.5 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 2014,2015, the Company purchased approximately $3.05$3.82 million and $3.58$3.05 million, respectively, of SiC crystals from Cree.

8.LINE OF CREDIT

On September 20, 2013, the Company obtained a $10,000,000 revolving line of credit (the “Line of Credit”) from PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”) for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Line of Credit was evidenced by a Committed Line of Credit Note, dated September 20, 2013 (the “Note”), which was set to mature on June 15, 2015.  The interest rate under the Note was the one-month LIBOR rate (adjusted daily) plus 1.50%, calculated on an actual/360 basis.

The Line of Credit was also governed by a loan agreement, dated September 20, 2013, and was guaranteed by Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC, and Moissanite.com, LLC. The Line of Credit was secured by a lien on substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Effective June 25, 2014, the Line of Credit was terminated concurrent with the Company entering into a new banking relationship with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”).   The Company had not utilized the Line of Credit.  The Company recognized the remaining $19,000 of deferred legal expenses associated with this Line of Credit upon termination.

On June 25, 2014, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC, and Moissanite.com, LLC (collectively, the “Borrowers”), obtained a $10,000,000 asset-based revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility��Facility”) from Wells Fargo.Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”). The Credit Facility willmay be used for general corporate and working capital purposes, including transaction fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and the issuance of letters of credit up to a $1,000,000 sublimit. The Credit Facility will mature on June 25, 2017.

The Credit Facility includes a $5,000,000 sublimit for advances that are supported by a 90% guaranty provided by the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Advances under the Credit Facility are limited to a borrowing base, which is computed by applying specified advance rates to the value of the Borrowers’ eligible accounts and inventory, less reserves. Advances against inventory are further subject to an initial $3,000,000 maximum. The Borrowers must maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 in excess availability at all times. There are no other financial covenants.

Each advance accrues interest at a rate equal to Wells Fargo’s 3-month LIBOR rate plus 2.50%, calculated on an actual/360 basis and payable monthly in arrears. Principal outstanding during an event of default accrues interest at a rate of 3% in excess of the above rate. Any advance may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. In addition, the maximum line amount may be reduced by the Company in whole or part at any time, subject to a fee equal to 2% of any reduction in the first year after closing, 1% of any reduction in the second year after closing, and 0% thereafter. There are no mandatory prepayments or line reductions.
The Credit Facility is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of the Borrowers, each of which is jointly and severally liable for all obligations thereunder.  Wells Fargo’s security interest in certain SiC materials is subordinate to Cree’sthe security interest in such materials pursuant to the New Supply Agreement and an Intercreditor Agreement with Wells Fargo.

The Credit Facility is evidenced by a credit and security agreement, dated as of June 25, 2014 and amended as of September 16, 2014 and December 12, 2014 (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”), and customary ancillary documents. The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, representations and cash dominion provisions, including a financial reporting covenant and limitations on dividends, distributions, debt, contingent obligations, liens, loans, investments, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, subsidiaries, affiliate transactions, and changes in control.

Events of default under the Credit Facility include, without limitation, (1) any impairment of the Export-Import Bank guaranty, unless the guaranteed advances are repaid within two business days, (2) an event of default under any other indebtedness of the Borrowers in excess of $200,000, and (3) a material adverse change in the ability of the Borrowers to perform their obligations under the Credit Agreement or in the Borrowers’ assets, liabilities, businesses or prospects, or other circumstances that Wells Fargo believes may impair the prospect of repayment. If an event of default occurs, Wells Fargo is entitled to take enforcement action, including acceleration of amounts due under the Credit Agreement and foreclosure upon collateral.

The Credit Agreement contains other customary terms, including indemnity, expense reimbursement, yield protection, and confidentiality provisions.  Wells Fargo is permitted to assign the Credit Facility.

As of June 30, 2015,2016, the Company had not borrowed against the Credit Facility.

9.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes the components of the Company’s stock-based compensation included in net loss:

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Employee stock options $119,990  $209,698  $306,461  $392,422  $105,543  $119,990  $244,726  $306,461 
Consultant stock options  25,203   -   41,448   -   46,862   25,203   97,110   41,448 
Restricted stock awards  248,910   224,281   425,433   418,068   152,472   248,910   297,063   425,433 
Income tax benefit  -   (78,349)  -   (146,046)
Totals $394,103  $355,630  $773,342  $664,444  $304,877  $394,103  $638,899  $773,342 

No stock-based compensation was capitalized as a cost of inventory during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.  Included in total stock-based compensation are approximately ($5,000) and $75,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to discontinued operations. Included in total stock-based compensation are approximately $44,000 and 2014.$96,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to discontinued operations.

Stock Options - The following is a summary of the stock option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2015:2016:

 Shares  
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Shares  
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2014  1,665,946  $2.93 
Outstanding, December 31, 2015  2,441,077  $2.11 
Granted  526,133  $1.39   441,005  $1.11 
Exercised  (241,752) $0.71   (2,500) $0.92 
Forfeited  (90,856) $3.55   (298,747) $1.40 
Expired  (300,892) $2.96   (261,229) $1.80 
Outstanding, June 30, 2015  1,558,579  $2.71 
Outstanding, June 30, 2016  2,319,606  $2.05 

The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 20152016 was $0.77.$0.61. The total fair value of stock options that vested during the six months ended June 30, 20152016 was approximately $392,000.$471,000. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2015:2016:
Dividend yield  0.0%
Expected volatility  65.761.9%
Risk-free interest rate  1.601.47%
Expected lives (years)  5.625.54 

Although the Company issued dividends in prior years, a dividend yield of zero was used due to the uncertainty of future dividend payments. Volatility is a measure of the amount by which a financial variable such as share price has fluctuated (historical volatility) or is expected to fluctuate (expected volatility) during a period. The Company estimates expected volatility giving primary consideration to the historical volatility of its common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the published yield available on U.S. Treasury issues with an equivalent term remaining equal to the expected life of the stock option. The expected lives of the stock options issued insince 2014 and the first six months of 2015 represent the estimated period of time until exercise or forfeiture and are based on the simplified method of using the mid-point between the vesting term and the original contractual term. Stock options issued prior to 2014 were expensed using expected lives that represented the time until exercise or forfeiture using historical information.information.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at June 30, 2015:2016:

Options Outstanding  Options Exercisable  Options Vested or Expected to Vest 
Balance
as of
6/30/2015
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
Balance
as of
6/30/2015
  
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
Balance
as of
6/30/2015
  
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
1,558,579  7.84  $2.71   736,338   6.23  $3.26   1,486,036   7.77  $2.74 
Options Outstanding  Options Exercisable  Options Vested or Expected to Vest 
Balance
as of
6/30/2016
  
Weighted
Average
 Remaining
Contractual
 Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
Balance
as of
6/30/2016
  
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  
Balance
as of
6/30/2016
  
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
 Life
(Years)
  
Weighted
Average
 Exercise
Price
 
 2,319,606   7.40  $2.05   1,389,202   6.16  $2.42   2,257,735   7.35  $2.06 

As of June 30, 2015,2016, the unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options was approximately $942,000,$569,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1918 months.

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding, exercisable, and vested or expected to vest at June 30, 2015 was2016 were each approximately $118,000, $38,000, and $111,000, respectively.$14,000. This amount is before applicable income taxes and represents the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at June 30, 20152016 less the grant price, multiplied by the number of stock options that had a grant price that is less than the closing market price. This amount represents the amount that would have been received by the optionees had these stock options been exercised on that date. During each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised was approximately $250. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised was approximately $169,000 and $167,000, respectively.

Restricted Stock - The following is a summary of the restricted stock activity for the six months ended June 30, 2015:2016:

 Shares  
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
  Shares  
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Unvested, December 31, 2014  287,006  $3.29 
Unvested, December 31, 2015  425,000  $1.87 
Granted  487,500  $1.38   509,250  $0.93 
Vested  (220,752) $2.58   (295,146) $1.74 
Canceled  -  $-   (116,100) $1.42 
Unvested, June 30, 2015  553,754  $1.89 
Unvested, June 30, 2016  523,004  $1.13 

As of June 30, 2015,2016, the unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock was approximately $807,000,$363,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 10eight months.

Dividends - The Company has not paid any cash dividends in the current year through June 30, 2015.2016.
10.NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted net loss per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the periods. Common equivalent shares consist of stock options that are computed using the treasury stock method. Antidilutive stock awards are comprisedconsist of stock options and unvested restricted shares whichthat would have been antidilutive in the application of the treasury stock method in accordance with the “Earnings Per Share” topic of the Financial Accounting Standard BoardFASB Accounting Standards Codification.

The following table reconciles the differences between the basic and diluted earnings per share presentations:

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Numerator:                    
Net loss from continuing operations $(983,256) $(2,900,185) $(1,731,771) $(3,541,064)
Net loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (563,615)  (2,185,923)
Net loss $(4,047,536) $(6,194,083) $(5,726,987) $(7,257,477) $(987,964) $(4,047,536) $(2,295,386) $(5,726,987)
                                
Denominator:                                
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                                
Basic  20,326,577   20,262,299   20,217,646   20,229,979   20,966,256   20,326,577   20,848,337   20,217,646 
Stock options  -   -   -   - 
Fully diluted  20,326,577   20,262,299   20,217,646   20,229,979 
Stock options and restricted stock  -   -   -   - 
Diluted  20,966,256   20,326,577   20,848,337   20,217,646 
                                
Net loss per common share:                                
Basic $(0.20) $(0.31) $(0.28) $(0.36)
Diluted $(0.20) $(0.31) $(0.28) $(0.36)
Basic – continuing operations $(0.05) $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.17)
Basic – discontinued operations  (0.00)  (0.06)  (0.03)  (0.11)
Basic – total $(0.05) $(0.20) $(0.11) $(0.28)
                
Diluted – continuing operations $(0.05) $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.17)
Diluted – discontinued operations  (0.00)  (0.06)  (0.03)  (0.11)
Diluted – total $(0.05) $(0.20) $(0.11) $(0.28)

For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, stock options to purchase approximately 1.56 million shares, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, stock options to purchase approximately 1.372.32 million shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per common share because the exercise price of the stock options was greater than the average market price of the common shares or the effect of inclusion of such amounts would be antidilutiveanti-dilutive to net loss per common share. For each of the corresponding period ended June 30, 2015, stock options to purchase approximately 1.56 million shares were excluded.  For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, approximately 523,000 unvested restricted shares were excluded because the inclusion of such amounts would be anti-dilutive to net loss per common share.  For each of the corresponding period ended June 30, 2015, 554,000 unvested restricted shares were excluded.

11.MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents investments, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and investments with high-quality financial institutions. At times, cash balances may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurable limits of $250,000 per depositor at each financial institution. Amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurable limits at June 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 approximated $4.94$10.71 million and $3.70$4.92 million, respectively.

Trade receivables potentially subject the Company to credit risk. The Company’s standard wholesale customer payment terms on trade receivables are generally between 30 and 90 days, though it may offer extended terms with specific customers and on significant orders from time to time. The Company believes its competitors and other vendors in the wholesale jewelry industry have also expanded their use of extended payment terms and, in aggregate, the Company believes that by expanding its use of extended payment terms, it has provided a competitive response in its market and that its net sales have been favorably impacted. The Company is unable to estimate the impact of this program on its net sales, but if it ceased providing extended payment terms in select instances, the Company believes it would not be competitive for some wholesale customers in the marketplace and that its net sales and profits would likely decrease. The Company extends credit to its customers based upon a number of factors, including an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and credit history that is verified through trade association reference services, the customer’s payment history with the Company, the customer’s reputation in the trade, and/or an evaluation of the Company’s opportunity to introduce its moissanite jewels or finished jewelry featuring moissanite to new or expanded markets. Collateral is not generally required from customers. The need for an allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information. The Company has not experienced any significant accounts receivable write-offs related to revenue arrangements with extended payment terms. The Company‘sHowever, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts includes approximately $815,000 related to one customer that has become past due on its payment arrangement.
At times, a portion of the Company’s accounts receivable will be due from customers that have individual balances in excess of 10% of the Company’s total net accounts receivable.  The following is a summary of customers that represent greater than or equal to 10% of total net accounts receivable:

 
June 30,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Customer A  59%  28%  22%  14%
Customer B  14%  11%  16%   **%
Customer C  10%   **%
Customer D  *%  17%
Customer E  *%  11%
Customer F  *%  10%

* Customers D, E and F did not have individual balances that represented a significant portion of total net accounts receivable as of June 30, 2016.
** Customers B and C did not have individual balances that represented a significant portion of the total net accounts receivable as of December 31, 2015.
A significant portion of sales is derived from certain customer relationships. The following is a summary of customers that represent greater than or equal to 10% of total gross sales:sales from continuing operations:

  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
Customer A  43%  36%  33%  30%
Customer B  1%  4%  9%  13%
Customer C  0%  15%  -2%  17%
  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Customer B  27%  1%  14%  11%
Customer D  *%  52%  38%  40%

*Customer D did not represent a significant portion of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2016.

12.DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On March 4, 2016, the Company and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (“Direct”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Yanbal, pursuant to which Yanbal agreed to purchase certain assets of Direct (the “Transferred Assets”). The transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement also closed on March 4, 2016 (the “Closing Date”).  The Company determined that the sale of these assets represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results.  The Company made the decision to divest of these assets after careful analysis of the Company’s core competencies, go-to-market strategies, and intent to advance toward profitability.

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Transferred Assets included, among other things, (i) an inventory credit to be used towards $250,000 in existing non-moissanite and moissanite inventory as of the Closing Date, consisting of Direct’s current jewelry offered under the “Lulu Avenue” trademarks, (ii) all existing marketing collateral such as packaging and catalogs for Direct’s current jewelry offered under the “Lulu Avenue” trademarks as of the Closing Date, (iii) certain assigned contracts, (iv) style advisor and customer lists, and (v) all intellectual property rights owned by the Company and Direct and used solely in connection with the operation of Direct’s direct-to-consumer home party business for the sale of fashion jewelry and related products and services in the United States, excluding the “Lulu Avenue” and “Love Knot” trademarks and other “Lulu Avenue” specific intellectual property such as the domain name www.luluavenue.com and all content located on such website (the “Lulu Intellectual Property”). The inventory credit and an exclusive, nontransferable license to use the Lulu Intellectual Property that was also granted to Yanbal on the Closing Date expired on July 31, 2016. After the Closing Date, the Company and Direct may not engage in the direct-to-consumer home party business and may not solicit style advisors or customers of the direct-to-consumer home party business. The Company has also agreed to provide to Yanbal certain transition services.

The purchase price for the Transferred Assets was $500,000 with selling expenses of approximately $131,000 resulting in a net purchase price of approximately $369,000.  The Company records its sales return allowance at the corporate level based on several factors including historical sales return activity and specific allowances for known customer returns.  For this disclosure, the Company reports the customer activity without effectrecorded a liability associated with $35,000 of specific sales return allowances.  Customer C returned goods in excess of its purchases during the period; however, these returns did not affect current period revenue as these returns had been specifically reserved as of December 31, 2014.  As these returns were received from Customer C, the Company reduced its sales return allowanceexpense related to these returns.certain style advisor incentives and reduced prepaid expenses by $60,000 related to contracts acquired by Yanbal.
The following table presents the major classes of line items constituting assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations:

  June 30, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Prepaid expenses and other assets $750  $83,000 
Total assets $750  $83,000 
Accounts payable $35,000  $140,000 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  148,000   209,000 
Total liabilities $183,000  $349,000 
The following table presents the major classes of line items constituting pretax loss from discontinued operations:

  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Net sales $53,698  $1,293,337  $770,771  $2,654,315 
Costs and expenses:                
Cost of goods sold  9,501   368,679   268,590   783,959 
Sales and marketing  44,389   1,729,940   908,197   3,345,360 
General and administrative  4,516   342,069   173,051   710,919 
Interest expense  -   -   11   - 
Total costs and expenses  58,406   2,440,688   1,349,849   4,840,238 
Loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (579,078)  (2,185,923)
Other income (expense):                
Gain on sale of long-term assets  -   -   15,463   - 
Total other income (expense), net  -   -   15,463   - 
Pretax loss from discontinued operations $(4,708) $(1,147,351) $(563,615) $(2,185,923)
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Statements expressing expectations regarding our future and projections relating to products, sales, revenues, and earnings are typical of such statements and are made under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations, and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue,” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.

All forward-looking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties inherent in predicting the future. You should be aware that although the forward-looking statements included herein represent management’s current judgment and expectations, our actual results may differ materially from those projected, stated, or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors including, but not limited to, the following:

·Our future financial performance depends upon increased consumer awareness and acceptance, growth of sales of our products, and operational execution of our strategic initiatives.
·We are currently substantially dependent on a limited number of distributors, jewelry manufacturers, and retailers for the sale of our products.
·The execution of our business plans could significantly impact our liquidity.
·Our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of our inability to fulfill orders on a timely basis.
·The financial difficulties or insolvency of one or more of our major customers or their lack of willingness and ability to market our products could adversely affect results.
·We expect to remain dependent upon our exclusive supply agreement, or the Supply Agreement with Cree, Inc., or Cree, which we entered into on December 12, 2014, for the sole supply of our silicon carbide, or SiC, crystals for the foreseeable future.
·We face intense competition in the worldwide jewelry industry.
·Our President and Chief Executive Officer transition involves significant risks, andfailure to maintain compliance with NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements could result in the delisting of our ability to successfully manage this transition and other organizational change could impact our business.common stock.
·Our current wholesale customers may potentially perceive us as a competitor in the finished jewelry business.
·We face intense competitionmay experience quality control challenges from time to time that can result in the worldwide jewelry industry.lost revenue and harm to our brands and reputation.
·Our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of general economic and market conditions, including the current economic environment.conditions.
·We are subject to certain risks due to our international distribution channels and vendors.
·Our operations could be disrupted by natural disasters.
·Sales of moissanite jewelry could be dependent upon the pricing of precious metals, which is beyond our control.
·Seasonality of our business may adversely affect our net sales and operating income.
·We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could harm the value of our products and brands and adversely affect our business.
·A failure of our information technology infrastructure or a failure to protect confidential information of our customers and our network against security breaches could adversely impact our business and operations.
·If the e-commerce opportunity changes dramatically or if e-commerce technology or providers change their models, our results of operations may be adversely affected.
·If we fail to evaluate, implement, and integrate strategic acquisition or disposition opportunities successfully, our business may suffer.
·Governmental regulation and oversight might adversely impact our operations.
·Some anti-takeover provisions of our charter documents and agreements may delay or prevent a takeover of our company.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur except as required by the federal securities laws, and you are urged to review and consider disclosures that we make in the reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, that discuss other factors relevant to our business.

The following discussion is designed to provide a better understanding of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, including a brief discussion of our business and products, key factors that impacted our performance, and a summary of our operating results. This information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.2015. Historical results and percentage relationships among any amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of trends in operating results for future periods.

Overview

We manufacture, market and distribute Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® jewels (which we refer to as moissanite or moissanite jewels), and finished jewelry featuring moissanite and fashion finished jewelry for sale in the worldwide jewelry market.  Moissanite, also known by its chemical name of silicon carbide, or SiC, is a rare mineral first discovered in a meteor crater. Because naturally occurring SiC crystals are too small for commercial use, larger crystals must be grown in a laboratory. Leveraging our advantage of being the original and leading worldwide source of created moissanite jewels, our strategy is to establish Charles & Colvard with reputable, high-quality, and sophisticated brands and to position moissanite as an ethically-sourced, affordable, and luxurious alternative to other gems,gemstones such as diamonds.diamond. We believe this is possible due to moissanite’s exceptional brilliance, fire, durability, and rarity like no other jewel available on the market.We sell loose moissanite jewels and finished jewelry at wholesale to distributors, manufacturers, and retailers and at retail to end consumers through our wholly owned operating subsidiaries, Moissanite.com, LLC and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (until March 2016), and through third-party marketplaces.

We manageIn February 2016, we made the strategic decision to explore a potential divestiture of our direct-to-consumer home party business operated through our Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (dba Lulu Avenue®) subsidiary.  After careful analysis of our core competencies, go-to-market strategies, and intent to advance toward profitability, the management team and Board of Directors determined a divestiture of this distribution channel to be in our and our shareholders’ best interests. On March 4, 2016, we and Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC entered into an asset purchase agreement with Yanbal USA, Inc., or Yanbal, under which Yanbal purchased certain assets related to our direct-to-consumer home party business for $500,000 and assumed certain liabilities related to such assets.

As a result of the divestiture of our direct-to-consumer home party business operated through our Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC (dba Lulu Avenue®) subsidiary, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, we began managing our business primarily bythrough our two continuing distribution channels. Accordingly, for the three distribution channels that we use to selland six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, our product lines, loose jewels and finished jewelry. Accordingly, we determined our three operating and reportable segments to beare our wholesale distribution channel transacted through our parent entity, and our direct-to-consumer e-commerce distribution channel transacted through ourthe wholly owned operating subsidiary, Moissanite.com, LLC, or Moissanite.com,LLC.  We are now presenting the operating results of Charles and direct-to-consumer home party distribution transacted through our wholly owned operating subsidiary, Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC or Charles & Colvard Direct. as a discontinued operation.

We sell our loose moissanite jewels at wholesale to some of the largest distributors and manufacturers in the world, which mount them into fine jewelry to be sold at retail outlets and via the Internet. We also sell loose moissanite jewels and finished jewelry featuring moissanite at wholesale to retailers, TV shopping networks, and designers to be sold to end consumers and directly to consumers through our e-commerce sales channel Moissanite.com. Additionally, we sell fashionMoissanite.com and moissanite finished jewelry directly to consumers through our home party sales channel Charles & Colvard Direct.third-party marketplaces.  We believe our continued and expanding use of multiple sales channels to the jewelry trade and the end consumer with branded finished jewelry featuring moissanite jewelry creates a more compelling consumer value proposition with the potential to drive increased demand.
We are continuinghave and will continue to focus on our core business of manufacturing and distributing the loose moissanite jewel and finished jewelry featuring moissanite through wholesale sales channels, because this is currently the primary way we reach consumers. We believe there is opportunity to grow our wholesale business and to capture a larger share of the jewelry market as we execute our strategy to increase consumer awareness of moissanite.

Our wholesale finished jewelry business has expanded through select retailers and television shopping networks. We believe there is significant opportunity to further expand our wholesale finished jewelry business through e-commerce, television shopping, and other retailers. We also believe our finished jewelry business, including finished jewelry sold through our direct-to-consumer e-commerce and home party sales channels, allows us to have more control over the end product and enhance our relationships with consumers, as well as provide incremental sales and gross profit dollars due to the higher price points of finished jewelry featuring moissanite relative to loose jewels. To that end, we are focusing on the following critical aspects of our strategic plan during 2015:

·Developing brand strategies - Our goal is to build multiple strong brands around the moissanite jewel and finished jewelry collections in attractive and desirable jewelry designs, especially those featuring larger center stones that leverage moissanite’s point of differentiation and value proposition. We believe branding will allow us to increase consumer awareness, which we expect to help drive sales and develop consumer brand recognition and loyalty.

In June 2012, we launched a moissanite jewel with optical properties that are significantly whiter than our standard VG, or Classic MoissaniteTM grade jewels. We are marketing these whiter jewels under the Forever Brilliant® trademark as a higher quality brand to differentiate from other grades of our moissanite as well as moissanite sold by potential competitors in the future.

In September 2014, we launched The Survivor Collection, a unique jewelry line designed to celebrate breast cancer survivors.   The line features three-stone rings and pendants, two Forever Brilliant® and one pink moissanite gem to symbolize life before, during, and after cancer.  The Survivor Collection has launched in over 150 retail locations in the Unites States and Canada.  While the collection has had some success, we will continue to evaluate how it fits in with our long term brand strategy.

In May 2015, we introduced to the trade at the JCK Las Vegas show our latest created gemstone, and first colorless moissanite, named Forever One.  This new addition to our portfolio of branded moissanite is expected to ship in limited quantities beginning in September 2015.  We plan to market our existing loose jewels with a defined brand architecture that celebrates the optical and physical properties of all Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® – more fire and brilliance than a diamond, second only to a diamond in terms of hardness, with a warranty guaranteeing the optical properties will last forever.

With the introduction of Forever One, we will be redefining our loose jewel brands through a color and clarity grading scale similar to the conventional grading of diamonds.  With respect to color, Forever One is colorless (D-E-F color), Forever Brilliant® is near colorless (G-H-I color), and our Classic Moissanite, soon to be renamed Forever Classic is faint color (J-K color), with all subject to clarity standards we have defined.   We intend to launch Forever One through select domestic and international distribution partners in limited shape and size assortments, priced at a premium to Forever Brilliant®.

We expect demand for our Forever Brilliant® loose jewel and finished jewelry featuring the Forever Brilliant® jewel to remain strong, both in our wholesale channel and on our Moissanite.com e-commerce website, and that Forever Brilliant® will continue to be an important brand for Charles & Colvard, Ltd. as we execute our new brand strategy.

To amplify our strategy of reaching the widest audience possible via social media and potential design partnerships, we hired a new public relations agency in March 2015 with specific expertise that will focus on an increased social, digital, and blog presence while identifying campaigns to reach specific target customers, including millennials.  In an effort to increase awareness for moissanite, we launched Moissy.com™ during the second quarter of 2015.  Moissy.com™ is a non-transactional website with user-generated content and educational information about the benefits of moissanite.
 
Our future growth strategy is closely linked to our vision statement:  “To be an innovative, disruptive leader in the jewelry industry by offering a socially responsible, created jewel that will last forever at a revolutionary value.” We believeplan to accomplish this vision by growing our effortscore loose jewel and finished jewelry wholesale distribution segment with key distributors, jewelry manufacturers, and retailers while working to develop multiple strongand expand our continuing direct-to-consumer distribution segment, which is conducted through our e-commerce subsidiary, Moissanite.com, LLC.  We also intend to expand our multi-channel e-commerce footprint through third-party marketplaces, comparison shopping engines, affiliate networks, social commerce sites and more. We plan to support these initiatives by increasing consumer awareness through a broad digital marketing footprint, clearly communicating to the consumer the value proposition of our products, and developing and distributing leading global brands for our moissanite jewel and the introduction of designer finished jewelry brands will help us to build brand recognitionfeaturing moissanite with an unrelenting focus on quality and increase consumer awareness of our products. We also expect that this strategy of building brand recognition will help to support revenue streamsdesign. Our key strategies for 2016 are as our intellectual property rights expire beginning in 2015.follows:

·ExpandingExpansion of Forever OneTM.   In September 2015, we launched Forever One™ – our first colorless moissanite jewel.  We introduced Forever OneTM to the market with a limited launch.  It was met with great enthusiasm from channel partners and existing customers.  We intend to leverage this momentum, and expand our Forever OneTM assortment (more shapes and sizes) throughout 2016 via a series of scheduled product releases.

·A move up-market.   Over the years our core product supplier, Cree, has improved its proprietary processes for SiC production.  It is this over 20-year evolution that has enabled the launch of our colorless jewel, Forever OneTM.  With this improvement in core product comes the opportunity for us to move up-market – competing directly with diamond for share of wallet.  We believe that this higher quality product line positions us for a move up-market to higher end retail opportunities.  We do anticipate new providers of moissanite to enter the market, as our U.S. exclusive patent expired in 2015, and international patents will be expiring in the third quarter of this year. We know how challenging it is to create high-quality moissanite and anticipate it will take emerging providers significant time and investment to bring meaningful and competitive products to market. As we experienced ourselves, we anticipate these new providers evolving from low-end moissanite quality, and do not anticipate competition in the near-colorless (Forever Brilliant®) or colorless (Forever OneTM) range for some time to come. To differentiate ourselves from emerging competition and to ensure our customers they are receiving a reputable and high-quality jewel, each Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® jewel is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and Certificate of Authenticity – our commitment to our customers that their purchase is guaranteed to retain its fire and brilliance forever.

·Expansion of our jewelry line.   We intend to expand our jewelry product line in 2016 to include increased focus on the bridal category.  We plan to curate a blend of our own finished jewelry featuring moissanite with products from select artisan jewelers.  This broadened collection will be available to our retail and wholesale partners as well as promoted on our e-commerce site and third-party transactional websites.  We plan to expand our resources and realign our sales and marketing team in the third quarter of the 2016 to implement this initiative.

·Growth within our traditional channels.   We have enjoyed over 20 years of partnership with industry leaders in the wholesale and retail spaces.  We believe these traditional channels represent fertile ground for our move up-market, and we are already working with several existing partners to expand their product lines to include Forever OneTM.  With this new, extraordinary, upscale product we believe we have an opportunity to both expand our relationship with existing partners and onboard new partners.  A continued presence for Charles & Colvard Created Moissanite® in traditional retail channels remains an important way for us to create touchpoints directly with consumers by providing them an opportunity to see and believe the beauty and brilliance of moissanite. During the first quarter of 2016, we launched moissanite on a TV shopping network with limited hours and continued sessions with limited hours in the second quarter of 2016. During 2015, this TV shopping network only sold our jewelry on their website. This is an example of creating growth within our traditional channels.
·Expansion of our direct-to-consumer e-commerce business -business.  Our direct-to-consumer e-commerceIn the second half of 2016, we plan to launch our new website, Moissanite.com, features an intuitive site design with robust functionality to enhance the customer experience and convert traffic into sales. We continue to expand the website’swe will be expanding our finished jewelry collections and its loose moissanite jewel assortment by featuring a varietyre-casting our products. With the launch of colorsour new website, we also plan to introduce an elevated line of jewelry, an expanded line of bridal jewelry, fashion and shapes, and we are investing resources in targeted advertising and marketing campaigns. During 2014classic styles, and the first six monthsintroduction of 2015,fashion oriented pieces that will address entry price points. We plan to launch an awareness campaign that will coincide with the release of the new website and will include public relations, social media, and search engine management.  During 2016, we continued fine-tuning such marketing effortsintend to maximize return on investment, increasing product assortment,expand our e-commerce footprint by providing our products for sale through additional e-commerce channels and building new site functionality designed to increase sales conversion rates.emerging social commerce channels.  We believe our direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales channelchannels will not only add to our top-line revenues, in a significant manner, but will also play a key role in our campaign to increase overall consumer awareness of moissanite.  We also envision e-commerce as a part of a broader effort to establish online connections with consumers that build our brandsbrand and subsequently our business with wholesale and retail partners.

·DevelopingA laser focus on millennials.   Millennials are the largest age group in U.S. history, and they are moving into their prime spending years.  Millennials have less money to spend and are often encumbered with debt, with student loans taking up a significant chunk of postgraduate millennials’ income.  They are the first ‘digital natives,’ known for spending significant time online, especially within their social networks.  When they do partake in traditional pastimes such as listening to music or watching television, they do so streaming from their digital devices.  And most importantly, they are socially and ethically-responsible individuals.  Millennials proactively seek out goods and services that align with their core principles, and become devoted and vocal advocates of brands that embody ‘green’ practices.  Our socially responsible and ethically-sourced loose jewel and finished jewelry products align directly with the principles and purchasing preferences of the millennial, and our direct-to-consumer home party business - In October 2012, our direct-to-consumer home party business, Lulu Avenue®, beganquality and price point offer unprecedented value to integrate the custom designscost-conscious millennial. During the first quarter of a well-known jewelry designer into the current jewelry line. In April 2013,2016, we hired an outside agency to help us build a Presidentbrand strategy and architecture and develop a brand design and messaging aligned with this target market. We continued to work with the outside agency through the second quarter of 2016 with a target for completion in the third quarter of 2016. Throughout 2016, we plan to proactively engage this market through a multi-channel traditional and digital marketing strategy, as outlined below.

·Lulu AvenueOur go-to-market strategy.   ® whose focus isIn order to expand existing channels while reaching our millennial targets, we intend to reconstruct our promotional and go-to-market strategies.  In 2016, we plan to:

·Develop significant educational content to help the market understand moissanite, the availability of our expanded selection of loose jewels and finished jewelry featuring moissanite, and our commitment to corporate social responsibility in the products we bring to market and the way we operate our business.  We also plan to deliver background content relative to the impact of mining on the scale-upjewelry industry.  We anticipate being disruptive in the industry and intend to be a leader on the topic of the sales force, and during 2014corporate social responsibility, and the first six monthssocial and ethical appeal of 2015, we continuedcreated gemstones and jewels.

·Expand our traditional channels.  We plan to invest in finance, sales, and customer service personnelfoster existing relationships designed to support our back office technology and supply chain efforts of Lulu Avenue®. Our direct-to-consumer home party salesmove channel is providingpartners up-market with us, with significant sales growth andwhile onboarding new partners who we believe are well positioned to help us bring Forever OneTM to market.  We intend to focus our efforts on additional television channels, new wholesale and retail opportunities, an expanded drop-ship network, a presence with independent jewelers, and more.

·Execute an aggressive social media strategy to directly reach consumers.  Leveraging our own social media properties and those of third parties, we believe we will create a dialogue that enables a ‘pull’ strategy which draws consumers to us to learn about and acquire our products.

·Expand our online presence including an aggressive push of our product to e-commerce marketplaces, comparison shopping engines, affiliate networks, social commerce sites, and more.  We intend to couple these postings with a significant digital marketing presence to deliver online advertising and search engine results to the consumer at the time they are searching for related products.
·Adopt new and emerging technologies to deliver our message.  In order to remain relevant and in front of today’s rapidly-evolving consumer, it will playis incumbent on us to study and adopt new technologies as the consumer demands them. A prime example is advancements in streaming video and the increasing impact video has on consumer education and behavior.  We believe this is a rolesignificant shift, and one we need to employ in our campaignonline toolkit.  We will strive to increase overall consumer awareness of moissanite.adopt this and other technologies to enhance our own e-commerce property as well as third-party outlets to tell our story.

As we execute our strategy to build and reinvest in our businesses, significant expenses and investment of cash will be required ahead of the revenue streams we expect in the future, and this maywill result in some unprofitable reporting periods in 2015.2016.  Despite this, we have maintained as one of our primary goals to generate positive cash flow from continuing operations to protect our cash position. During 2014We were successful in achieving this goal during 2015 and in the first six months of 2015,2016 as we were able to significantly reduce our inventories and aggressively collect on our trade accounts receivable balance from year end and on current year sales.balances. We will continue to monitor our cash burn rate and collection efforts as we grow the business.

Our total consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 of $15.85$17.92 million were 14%36% greater than total consolidated net sales during the six months ended June 30, 2014.2015. Wholesale distribution segment net sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 of $10.83$15.43 million were 10% lower42% greater than wholesale distribution segment net sales during the six months ended June 30, 2014.2015. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce distribution segment net sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 of $2.36$2.49 million were 67%5% greater than direct-to-consumer e-commerce distribution segment net sales during the six months ended June 30, 2014.  Direct-to-consumer home party distribution segment net sales during the six months ended June 30, 2015 of $2.65 million were 442% greater than direct-to-consumer home party distribution segment net sales during the six months ended June 30, 2014.2015.

Loose jewel sales comprised 48%81% of our total consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 and decreased 1%increased 92% to $7.59$14.60 million, compared with $7.69$7.59 million in the correspondingsame period of 2014.2015. Finished jewelry sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 comprised 52%19% of our total consolidated net sales and increased 33%decreased 41% to $8.27$3.32 million, compared with $6.22$5.61 million in the correspondingsame period of 2014. We expect these increases in finished jewelry sales to continue as we execute our strategy of developing new wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales channels and expanding our finished jewelry business.  While we expect finished jewelry sales to continue to increase as our direct-to-consumer businesses increase and become a larger portion of our overall sales, we do not expect loose jewel sales to continue to decrease as we implement new strategies around our new loose jewel brand architecture.2015.
Operating expenses from continuing operations increased by $2.13 million,$258,000, or 26%4%, to $10.27$6.47 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, compared with $8.13$6.21 million in the correspondingsame period of 2014.2015. Of this increase, salesgeneral and administrative expenses increased $78,000, or 3%, to $3.14 million primarily as a result of certain fees associated with our $10,000,000 asset-based revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, obtained on June 25, 2014 from Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, or Wells Fargo. Sales and marketing expenses increased $2.13 million,$186,000, or 49%6%, to $6.49$3.33 million, primarily as a result of increased commissions on sales for our home party direct sales business and increased expenses for personnel additions and changes.  General and administrative expenses increased slightly to $3.77 million primarily due to the transition of our President and Chief Executive Officer, the increased legal expensescosts associated with the transition,implementing our new sales and office-related expense increases, which were partially offset by lower legal fees on other corporate matters, and lower bad debt expense. marketing strategies.  As we grow our business, we intend to continue to closely manage our operating expenses by seeking the most cost effective and efficient solutions tofor our operating requirements. We recorded a net loss of $5.73$2.3 million, or $0.28$0.11 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, primarily due to lowergreater margins on higher sales of some lower quality, slow-moving finished jewels,with increased inventory reserves and adjustments, and higher sales and marketing expenses.  These increases were partially offset by a greater gross profit resulting from an increase of overallexpenses as we implement our new sales through our direct-to-consumer e-commerce and home party sales businesses.marketing strategies.

The execution of our strategy to grow our company, with the ultimate goal of increasing consumer awareness and clearly communicating the value proposition of moissanite, is challenging and not without risk. As such, there can be no assurance that future results for each reporting period will exceed past results in sales, operating cash flow, and/or net income due to the challenging business environment in which we operate and our investment in various initiatives to support our growth strategies. However, as we execute our growth strategy and messaging initiatives, we remain committed to our current priorities of generating positive cash flow and strengthening our financial position while both monetizing our existing inventory and manufacturing both our Forever Brilliant® and new Forever OneTMcreated moissanite loose jewels and finished jewelry featuring moissanite to meet sales demand. We believe the results of these efforts will propel our revenue growth and profitability and further enhance shareholder value in coming years, but we fully recognize the business and economic challenges that we face.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which we prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. “Critical accounting policies and estimates” are defined as those most important to the financial statement presentation and that require the most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Under different assumptions and/or conditions, actual results of operations may materially differ. We have disclosed our critical accounting policies and estimates in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, and that disclosure should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain consolidated statements of operations data for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 2014:2015:

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,  Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015  2016  2015 
Net sales $7,476,872  $7,841,647  $15,853,936  $13,909,200  $6,527,004  $6,183,535  $17,920,275  $13,199,621 
Costs and expenses:                                
Cost of goods sold  6,461,537   5,324,981   11,305,440   8,988,023   3,894,094   6,092,858   13,057,982   10,521,481 
Sales and marketing  3,517,870   2,171,614   6,491,234   4,366,225   1,803,010   1,787,930   3,331,595   3,145,874 
General and administrative  1,533,948   2,376,466   3,768,161   3,752,681   1,693,123   1,191,879   3,135,818   3,057,242 
Research and development  7,043   9,514   9,104   11,501   980   7,043   2,848   9,104 
Loss on abandonment of assets  -   -   -   2,201 
Total costs and expenses  11,520,398   9,882,575   21,573,939   17,120,631   7,391,207   9,079,710   19,528,243   16,733,701 
Loss from operations  (4,043,526)  (2,040,928)  (5,720,003)  (3,211,431)  (864,203)  (2,896,175)  (1,607,968)  (3,534,080)
Other income (expense):                                
Interest income  -   20   11   49   -   -   -   11 
Interest expense  (767)  (188)  (784)  (318)  (5)  (767)  (1,512)  (784)
Loss on abandonment of property and equipment  (115,548)  -   (115,548)  - 
Gain on sale of long-term assets  -   -   125   -   -   -   -   125 
Total other expense, net  (767)  (168)  (648)  (269)  (115,553)  (767)  (117,060)  (648)
Loss before income taxes  (4,044,293)  (2,041,096)  (5,720,651)  (3,211,700)
Income tax net expense  (3,243)  (4,152,987)  (6,336)  (4,045,777)
Loss before income taxes from continuing operations  (979,756)  (2,896,942)  (1,725,028)  (3,534,728)
Income tax net expense from continuing operations  (3,500)  (3,243)  (6,743)  (6,336)
Net loss from continuing operations  (983,256)  (2,900,185)  (1,731,771)  (3,541,064)
                
Discontinued operations:                
Loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (579,078)  (2,185,923)
Gain on sale of assets from discontinued operations  -   -   15,463   - 
Net loss from discontinued operations  (4,708)  (1,147,351)  (563,615)  (2,185,923)
Net loss $(4,047,536) $(6,194,083) $(5,726,987) $(7,257,477) $(987,964) $(4,047,536) $(2,295,386) $(5,726,987)
 
Consolidated Net Sales

Consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 comprise the following:

Three Months Ended June 30,ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,ChangeThree Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
Loose jewels $3,766,308  $4,010,339  $(244,031)  -6% $7,587,438  $7,691,025  $(103,587)  -1% $4,956,825  $3,766,309  $1,190,516   32% $14,597,642  $7,587,438  $7,010,204   92%
Finished jewelry  3,710,564   3,831,308   (120,744)  -3%  8,266,498   6,218,175   2,048,323   33%  1,570,179   2,417,226   (847,047)  -35%  3,322,633   5,612,183   (2,289,550)  -41%
Total consolidated net sales $7,476,872  $7,841,647  $(364,775)  -5% $15,853,936  $13,909,200  $1,944,736   14% $6,527,004  $6,183,535  $343,469   6% $17,920,275  $13,199,621  $4,720,654   36%

Consolidated net sales were $7.48$6.53 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $6.18 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $7.84 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, a decreasean increase of $365,000,$343,000, or 5%6%.  Consolidated net sales were $15.85$17.92 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $13.20 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $13.91 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $1.94$4.72 million, or 14%36%.  The decreaseincrease in consolidated net sales for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 was due primarily to lowerstrong wholesale loose jeweljewels sales compared to the corresponding period of the prior year due to timing of orders shipped.year. This decreaseincrease was partiallylargely offset by the growth in sales, primarilydecrease in finished jewelry of oursales. Our direct-to-consumer businesses,e-commerce business, Moissanite.com and Lulu Avenue®, sales decreased over the corresponding periods due to lower conversion rates which increased 78% to $1.26 million and 355% to $1.29 million, respectively, comparedwe believe are due to the corresponding periodlack of clearance inventory on Moissanite.com. We expect this trend to continue into the prior year.fourth quarter of 2016 until we re-merchandise and upgrade Moissanite.com. The increase in consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 was due primarily to the increase in our wholesale business in both the domestic and international markets through our distributor channels,  the sale of approximately $6.77 million of slow-moving inventory to our largest domestic customer as a result of our efforts to reduce inventories, and the growth in sales primarily in finished jewelry, of our direct-to-consumer businesses,e-commerce business, Moissanite.com and Lulu Avenue®, which increased 67%5% to $2.36$2.49 million, and 442% to $2.65 million, respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.

International sales of our wholesale business decreased by $54,000, or 9%, to $521,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.  International sales of our wholesale business increased by $203,000, or 22%, to $1.14 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.  We anticipate orders and related sales of loose moissanite jewels and finished jewelry featuring moissanite in both our wholesale distribution segment and our two direct-to-consumer distribution segments will improve as we execute our growth strategies.

Sales of loose jewels represented 50%76% and 48%81% of total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, respectively, compared to 51%61% and 55%57% of total consolidated net sales for the corresponding periodsperiod of the prior year. For the three months ended June 30, 2015,2016, loose jewel sales were $3.77$4.96 million compared to $4.01$3.77 million for the corresponding period of the prior year, a decreasean increase of $244,000,$1.19 million, or 6%32%. For the six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, loose jewel sales were $7.59$14.6 million compared to $7.69$7.59 million for the corresponding period of the prior year, a decreasean increase of $104,000,$7.01 million, or 1%92%. The decreasesincrease for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to the increase in the domestic market through our distributor channels and an increase in wholesale sales to one of our significant customers as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. In addition, we saw an increase in international sales as we serve distributors in the China and Hong Kong markets.  The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were2016 was primarily due to a focusthe sale of approximately $6.77 million of slow-moving inventory during the period, our Forever OneTM sales in the second quarter of 2016 doubling from the first quarter of 2016, and the increase in international sales as we serve distributors in the China and Hong Kong markets as compared to reduce inventorythe corresponding period of slower moving standard grade loose jewels through existing distribution channels.the previous year.  Sales in these markets may fluctuate significantly each reporting period. We are evaluating our options to enforce collection from one customer with which we are in dispute.

Sales of finished jewelry represented 50%24% and 52%19% of total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, respectively, compared to 49%39% and 45%43% of total consolidated net sales for the corresponding periodsperiod of the prior year. For the three months ended June 30, 2015,2016, finished jewelry sales were $3.71$1.57 million compared to $3.83$2.42 million for the corresponding period of the prior year, a decrease of $121,000,$847,000, or 3%35%.  For the six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, finished jewelry sales were $8.27$3.32 million compared to $6.22$5.61 million for the corresponding period of the prior year, an increasea decrease of $2.05$2.29 million, or 33%41%TheThis decrease infor each corresponding period was primarily attributable to lower sales through our wholesale distribution segment as we have transitioned our largest customer to larger purchases of loose jewels and fewer purchases of finished jewelry sales injewelry.  For the three months ended June 30, 20152016, the decrease also was primarily dueattributable in part to fluctuations in timing of orders from our largest finished jewelry customer.  The growththe decline of our direct-to-consumer e-commerce and home party businesses in our direct-to-consumer distribution segment offset thebusiness which had a decrease of jewelry sales to our largest wholesale jewelry customer, and is the primary driver of the increase9% in finished jewelry sales forto $1.03 million. This decrease was due to lower conversion rates which we believe are due to the lack of clearance inventory on Moissanite.com. We expect this trend to continue into the fourth quarter of 2016 until we re-merchandise and upgrade Moissanite.com. For the six months ended June 30, 2015.2016, this decrease was offset in part by the growth of our direct-to-consumer e-commerce business which had an increase of 7% in finished jewelry sales to $2.24 million.
 
United States, or U.S., net sales remained consistent withaccounted for approximately 93%84% and 90% of total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, respectively, compared to 93%92% and 91% of total consolidated net sales for the corresponding periods of the prior year. U.S. net sales decreased $311,000,to $5.45 million, or 4%, to $6.96 million forduring the three months ended June 30, 20152016 from the corresponding period of the prior year primarily as a result of a decrease in loose jeweldecreased sales to our domestic wholesale customer base due to a focus on reducing inventory of slower moving standard grade loose jewels through existing distribution channels.  This decrease in U.S. sales was offset in part by an increase in U.S. finished jewelry sales through our direct-to-consumer businesses, Moissanite.com and Lulu Avenue®.  Fore-commerce business.  U.S. net sales increased to $16.09 million, or 33%, during the six months ended June 30, 2015, U.S. net sales increased $1.74 million, or 13%, to $14.72 million compared to2016 from the corresponding period of the prior year primarily due to the increase in U.S. finished jewelryas a result of increased sales throughof our direct-to-consumer businesses, Moissanite.come-commerce business and Lulu Avenue®, which was offsetthe sale of $6.77 million of slow-moving inventory to our largest domestic customer in part by a reductionthe first quarter of loose jewel sales through our existing wholesale U.S. distribution channels.the current year.

Our largest U.S. customer during the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 accounted for 43% and 33%, respectively,27% of total consolidated sales compared to 36% and 30%, respectively,1% during the corresponding periodssame period of 2014.2015. This customer during the six months ended June 30, 2016 accounted for 14% of total consolidated sales compared to 11% during the same period last year. One other U.S. customer accounted for 15%52% of total consolidated sales during the three months ended June 30, 2014,2015, but did not account for a significant portion of our total consolidated sales induring the correspondingsame period of 2015.  Two U.S. customers accounted for 17% and 13% of total consolidated sales2016. This customer during the six months ended June 30, 2014, but did not account2016 accounted for a significant percentage38% of total consolidated sales compared to 40% during the correspondingsame period of 2015. We expect that we will remain dependent on our ability, and that of our largest customers, to maintain and enhance retail programs. A change in or loss of any of these customer or retailer relationships could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

International net sales accounted for approximately 7%16% and 10% of total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, respectively, compared to 7%8% and 9% of total consolidated net sales for the corresponding periods of the prior year.  International net sales decreased $54,000, or 9%,increased 107% and 61% during the three months ended June 30, 2015, from the corresponding period of the prior year primarily as a result of a decrease in loose jewel sales to our international wholesale customer base.  International net sales increased $203,000, or 22%, during theand six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, respectively, from the corresponding periodperiods of the prior year primarily due to the prior year declineas we serve distributors in sales to our international customers within our wholesale business.  Economic and market conditions that face our larger international customers have caused some fluctuation in our international net sales.  We believe the economic and market conditions will continue to improve in our international markets.  As we attempt to expand our international markets, particularly the China and Hong Kong markets, we have been and will continue to evaluate each of the distributorsmarkets.  Sales in these markets and others,may continue to determine the best long-term partner within these markets, as well as enforcing thefluctuate significantly each reporting period. We are evaluating our options to enforce collection from one customer with which we are in dispute.   As a result, our sales in these markets may fluctuate significantly each reporting period.

We did not have an international customer account for more than 10% of total consolidated sales during the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 or 2014.2015.  A portion of our international consolidated sales represents jewels sold internationally that may be re-imported to U.S. retailers. Our top three international distributors by sales volume during the three months ended June 30, 2015, in order, were located in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Hong Kong.  Our top three international distributors by sales volume during the six months ended June 30, 2015, in order,2016 were located in Hong Kong, United Kingdom,Taiwan, and Hong Kong.India.

Costs and Expenses

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 are as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30,  Change  Six Months Ended June 30,  Change  Three Months Ended June 30,  Change  Six Months Ended June 30,  Change 
 2015  2014  Dollars  Percent  2015  2014  Dollars  Percent  2016  2015  Dollars  Percent  2016  2015  Dollars  Percent 
Product line cost of goods sold                                        
Loose jewels $3,062,283  $2,066,290  $995,993   48% $5,283,457  $3,863,698  $1,419,759   37% $2,369,823  $3,062,218  $(692,395)  -23% $10,183,883  $5,283,392  $4,900,491   93%
Finished jewelry  1,996,922   2,747,364   (750,442)  -27%  4,024,867   4,385,612   (360,745)  -8%  1,195,674   1,737,833   (542,159)  -31%  1,960,781   3,446,003   (1,485,222)  -43%
Total product line cost of goods sold  5,059,205   4,813,654   245,551   5%  9,308,324   8,249,310   1,059,014   13%  3,565,497   4,800,051   (1,234,554)  -26%  12,144,664   8,729,935   3,415,269   39%
Non-product line cost of goods sold  1,402,332   511,327   891,005   174%  1,997,116   738,713   1,258,403   170%  328,597   1,292,807   (964,210)  -75%  913,318   1,792,086   (878,768)  -49%
Total cost of goods sold $6,461,537  $5,324,981  $1,136,556   21% $11,305,440  $8,988,023  $2,317,417   26% $3,894,094  $6,092,858  $(2,198,764)  -36% $13,057,982  $10,521,481  $2,536,501   24%
Total cost of goods sold was $6.46$3.89 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $6.09 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $5.32 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, an increasea decrease of $1.14$2.20 million, or 21%36%.  Total cost of goods sold was $11.31$13.06 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $10.52 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $8.99 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $2.32$2.54 million, or 26%24%.  Product line cost of goods sold is defined as product cost of goods sold in each of our wholesale distribution and direct-to-consumer e-commerce distribution and direct-to-consumer home party distribution operating segments excluding non-capitalized expenses from our manufacturing and production control departments, comprising personnel costs, depreciation, rent, utilities, and corporate overhead allocations; freight out; inventory valuation allowance adjustments; and other inventory adjustments, comprising royalties on design of goods, costs of quality issues, damaged goods, and inventory write-offs.

The increasedecrease in cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 was primarily due to a $996,000 increase$692,000 decrease in loose jewels product line cost of goods sold resulting from the sale of slow moving loose jewel inventory of less desirable quality at lower product margins to one customer in the three months ended June 30, 2015.  Additional decreases in costs of goods sold included a $542,000 decrease in finished jewels product line cost of goods sold as a result of lower finished jewelry sales in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year and a net increasedecrease in non-product line cost of goods sold of $891,000.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in finished jewelry cost of goods sold primarily due to the sale of slow moving jewelry at lower product margins to one customer during the three months ended June 30, 2014, and increased finished jewelry sales through our direct-to-consumer businesses, Moissanite.com and Lulu Avenue®, which carry higher margins.  The cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 2015 also included the effect of a finished jewelry melt of slow moving and obsolete jewelry that we identified during the quarter, from which we recovered the cost of the metal and loose jewels, which was less than the carrying cost of the finished jewelry.$964,000, or 75%.   The net increasedecrease in non-product line cost of goods sold comprises a $366,000 increase$169,000 decrease in non-capitalized manufacturing and production control expenses primarily due to timing of receiving work in process into inventory and allocating overhead, a $411,000 decrease in the change in inventory valuation allowances, including inventory obsolescence, shrinkage, recuts, repairs, and scrap reserves;reserves, and a $246,000 increase$395,000 decrease in other inventory adjustmentsadjustments. These decreases were offset in part by an $11,000 increase in freight out due to increased sales volume.

The increase in cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 was primarily due to a $6.77 million sale of slow-moving loose gemstone inventory at low margins, which includes $17,000was partially offset by a decrease in non-product line cost of royalties on fashion jewelry design work;goods sold of $879,000, or 49%.   The net decrease in non-product line cost of goods sold comprises a $244,000$560,000 decrease in the change in inventory valuation allowances, including inventory shrinkage, recuts, repairs, and scrap reserves, and a $429,000 decrease in other inventory adjustments. These decreases were offset in part by a $95,000 increase in non-capitalized manufacturing and production control expenses;expenses primarily due to timing of receiving work in process into inventory and allocating overhead, and a $35,000$15,000 increase in freight expensesout due to increased sales through our direct-to-consumer businesses.volume.   See Note 3, “Segment Information and Geographic Data,” in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of non-product line cost of goods sold.

The increase in cost
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Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 are as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30,ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,Change
 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 
Sales and marketing $3,517,870  $2,171,614  $1,346,256   62% $6,491,234  $4,366,225  $2,125,009   49%
 Three Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
Sales and marketing $1,803,010  $1,787,930  $15,080   1% $3,331,595  $3,145,874  $185,721   6%

Sales and marketing expenses were $3.52$1.80 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $1.79 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $2.17 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $1.35 million,$15,000, or 62%1%. Sales and marketing expenses were $6.49$3.33 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $3.15 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $4.37 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $2.13 million,$186,000, or 49%6%.

The increase in sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 was primarily due to an increase of $817,000 in net compensation expenses; a $274,000$245,000 increase in advertising expenses;advertising; a $197,000 increase in office-related expenses; and a $136,000$40,000 increase in professional services primarily related to operation of our sales platformcustomer service and fulfillment services for our direct-to-consumer home party business.public relations; a $12,000 increase in market research; and an $8,000 increase in recruiting fees.  These increases were partially offset by a $42,000$205,000 decrease in compensation expenses; a $43,000 decrease in travel expense due to fewer international sales tripstrips; a $28,000 decrease in office-related expense; and a $37,000$14,000 decrease in depreciation expense related to the Moissanite.com e-commerce sales platform.

The increase in advertising expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 comprises a $368,000 increase in outside agency fees primarily related to the outside agency hired to build a brand strategy and Lulu Avenue® e-commerce websites’ direct sales platforms.architecture and develop a brand design and messaging; a $59,000 increase in internet marketing; and a $31,000 increase in trade show related expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $102,000 decrease in samples; a $76,000 decrease in cooperative advertising; a $28,000 decrease in print media expenses to develop and promote brand awareness campaigns; and a $7,000 net decrease in all other advertising expenses.
Compensation costs for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 2014 increased2015 decreased primarily as a result of an increasea $288,000 decrease in severance expense related to the personnel changes within the wholesale sales organization in the corresponding period of the prior year and a decrease in commissions of $426,000$94,000 for sales to specific wholesale customers under which commission plans of sales representatives are based and the increase in sales within our direct-to-consumer home party line of business;based.  This decrease was partially offset by a $288,000 increase in severance expense related to personnel changes within the wholesale sales organization; and a $133,000$91,000 increase in salaries and related employee benefits.  These changes were partially offset bybenefits; a $16,000 decrease$55,000 increase in bonus expense andexpense; a $14,000 decrease$25,000 increase in stock-based compensation expense.

Theexpense; and a $6,000 increase in advertising expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period in 2014 comprises a $125,000 increase in agency and other media and awareness spending, including $97,000 of increased samples expenses; an increase in internet marketing of $78,000; a $68,000 increase in cooperative advertising, and an increase of $3,000 in print media expenses to develop and promote brand awareness campaigns.  The increase in cooperative advertising expenses resulted primarily from the decision of our domestic distributors to not utilize the advertising credits we had accrued during 2013 within the allowable period that we reversed during the three months ended June 30, 2014, and management’s decision to offer sales discounts to most of our international customers in lieu of cooperative advertising assistance.relocation expense.

The increase in sales and marketing expenses for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 was primarily due to an increase of $1.54 million in net compensation expenses; a $335,000$431,000 increase in office-related expenses;advertising; a $272,000$53,000 increase in professional services primarily related to the operation of our sales platformcustomer service and fulfillment services for our direct-to-consumer home party business;public relations; a $43,000 increase in recruiting fees; and a $113,000$35,000 increase in advertising expenses.market research.  These increases were partially offset by a $65,000$216,000 decrease in compensation expenses; an $85,000 decrease in travel expense due to fewer international sales trips andtrips; a $72,000$41,000 decrease in office-related expense; a $30,000 decrease in depreciation expense related to the Moissanite.com e-commerce sales platform; and Lulu Avenue® e-commerce websites’ direct sales platforms.a net decrease of $4,000 in miscellaneous other expenses.

The increase in advertising expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 comprises a $387,000 increase in outside agency fees primarily related to the outside agency hired to build a brand strategy and architecture and develop a brand design and messaging; a $93,000 increase in internet marketing; a $79,000 increase in cooperative advertising; and a $31,000 increase in trade show related expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $101,000 decrease in samples; a $33,000 decrease in print media expenses to develop and promote brand awareness campaigns; a $24,000 decrease in promotions; and a $1,000 net decrease in all other advertising expenses.

Compensation costs for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 2014 increased2015 decreased primarily as a result of an increasea $282,000 decrease in severance expense related to the personnel changes within the wholesale sales organization in the corresponding period of the prior year and a decrease in commissions of $1.07 million$233,000 for sales to specific wholesale customers under which commission plans of sales representatives are based and the increase in sales within our direct-to-consumer home party line of business;based.  This decrease was partially offset by a $279,000 increase in severance expense related to personnel changes within the wholesale sales organization; and a $250,000$144,000 increase in salaries and related employee benefits.  These changes were partially offset bybenefits; a $44,000 decrease$93,000 increase in bonus expense; a $46,000 increase in stock-based compensation expenseexpense; and a $14,000 decrease in bonus expense.

The$16,000 increase in advertising expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period in 2014 comprises a $139,000 increase in agency and other media and awareness spending, including $93,000relocation expense.
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We expect our total sales and marketing expenses will increase as sales increase, but the rate of growth should slow and become a lower percentage of sales as expenses more variable in nature, such as advertising and commissions, increase as part of our strategy to build sales; but fixed expenses remain relatively constant.  While employee compensation costs may fluctuate from period to period as we continue to build a more efficient and productive sales organization, we expect that these costs will become more fixed in nature over time.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 are as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30,ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,Change
 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 
General and administrative $1,533,948  $2,376,466  $(842,518)  -35% $3,768,161  $3,752,681  $15,480   0%
 Three Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
General and administrative $1,693,123  $1,191,879  $501,244   42% $3,135,818  $3,057,242  $78,576   3%
General and administrative expenses were $1.53$1.69 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $1.19 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $2.38 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, a decreasean increase of $843,000,$501,000, or 35%42%. General and administrative expenses were $3.77$3.14 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $3.06 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, comparedan increase of $79,000, or 3%.
General and administrative expenses are allocated across our distribution channels, which in 2015 included allocations to $3.75 millionCharles & Colvard Direct, LLC, a segment we are reporting as discontinued operations. See Note 12, “Discontinued Operations,” in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of discontinued operations. Approximately $340,000 of the sixoverall increase in general and administrative expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $15,000, or approximately 0%.2016 explained below is attributable to the general and administrative expenses allocated to our remaining two continuing operations distribution channels that was previously allocated to discontinued operations.

The decreaseincrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 was primarily due to a $665,000 decrease$349,000 increase in compensation expenses; a $166,000 increase in bank fees primarily attributable to our Credit Facility; a $16,000 increase in bad debt expense associated with our allowance for doubtful accounts reserve policy; a $179,000 decrease in professional services; a decrease of $30,000 for moving the corporate headquarters to its new leased space during 2014; a $19,000 decrease$6,000 increase in depreciation and amortization expense; a $9,000$5,000 increase in board retainer fees; and a $1,000 increase in professional services. These increases were partially offset by a $21,000 decrease in travel expense; a $14,000 decrease in office-related expenses; and a $7,000 decrease in business and franchise taxes; and a $4,000 decrease in board compensation  These decreases were partially offset by a $32,000 increase in travel expenses; a $15,000 increase in other administrative expenses, primarily associated with filing of sales and use tax returns; a $14,000 increase in office-related expenses associated with the new facility; and a $2,000 increase in compensation expenses.

Professional services decreased for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period in 2014 primarily due to a decrease in legal fees of $148,000; a $34,000 decrease in audit and tax services primarily due to the timing of work performed; and a decrease of $34,000 in investor and public relations expenses.  These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $37,000 in consulting and other professional services.taxes.

Compensation expenses increased for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 primarily due to an increase in salaries and related employee benefits in the aggregate of $44,000,$314,000 and an increase in bonus expense of $42,000.  These increases were partially offset by a $42,000 decrease in stock-based compensation expense.expense of $7,000.

Professional services increased for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase of $34,000 in consulting and other professional services primarily related to human resources and sales and use tax projects and a $32,000 increase in audit and tax services primarily due to the timing of work performed. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in legal fees of $42,000 and a decrease of $23,000 in public relations expenses that are now included as part of the marketing function.

The increase in general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 was primarily due to a $443,000$192,000 increase in bank fees primarily attributable to our Credit Facility and a $165,000 increase in compensation expenses; a $96,000 increase in office-related expenses; a $95,000 increase in professional services; a $37,000 increase in travel expense; a $20,000 increase in recruiting agency fees; a $16,000 increase in board compensation; and a $16,000 increase in other administrative expenses, primarily associated with filing of sales and use tax returns.expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $664,000$101,000 decrease in professional services; a $79,000 decrease in bad debt expense associated with our allowance for doubtful accounts reserve policy; a $31,000 decrease of $30,000 for moving the corporate headquarters to its new leased space during 2014;in board retainer fees; a $9,000$26,000 decrease in depreciation and amortization expense; andan $18,000 decrease in travel expense; a $5,000$17,000 decrease in business and franchise taxes.taxes; and a $6,000 decrease in office-related expenses.

Compensation expenses increased for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 primarily due to an increase in salaries and related employee benefits in the aggregate of $521,000 and an increase in bonus expense of $77,000.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in severance expense of $335,000 associated with the departure of oura former President and Chief Executive Officer an increasein 2015 and a decrease in stock-based compensation expense of $22,000, the$98,000, a majority of which was related to the transition of our President and Chief Executive Officer and an increase in salaries and related employee benefits in the aggregate of $86,000, of which $11,000 was related to the transition of our President and Chief Executive Officer.prior year period.

Professional services increaseddecreased for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 20142015 primarily due to an increasea decrease in legal fees of $96,000,$127,000, of which approximately $85,000 was related to the transition of our President and Chief Executive Officer;Officer in the prior year period, and a decrease of $61,000 in public relations expenses that are now included as part of the marketing function.  These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $60,000$72,000 in consulting and other professional services of which approximately $18,000primarily related to the transition of our Presidenthuman resources and Chief Executive Officer.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $52,000 in investorsales and public relations expensesuse tax projects and a $9,000 decrease$15,000 increase in audit and tax services primarily due to the timing of work performed.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 20152016 and 20142015 are as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30,ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,Change
 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 
Research and development $7,043  $9,514  $(2,471)  -26% $9,104  $11,501  $(2,397)  -21%
 Three Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
Research and development $980  $7,043  $(6,063)  -86% $2,848  $9,104  $(6,256)  -69%
Research and development expenses were approximately $1,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $7,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $10,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of approximately $3,000,$6,000, or 26%86%. Research and development expenses were approximately $3,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $9,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $12,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of approximately $3,000,$6,000, or 21%69%.

ResearchThe decrease in research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 2014 decreased2015 was primarily due to an $8,000a $6,000 decrease in consulting professional services, partially offset by an increase of $4,000 in compensation costs and office expenses for time and materials allocated by operations personnel to research and development activities and a $2,000$1,000 decrease in jewel research testing, partially offset by a $1,000 increase in purchases of materials specifically purchased for these activities.testing.

ResearchThe decrease in research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 20152016 compared to the correspondingsame period in 2014 decreased2015 was primarily due to a $9,000$6,000 decrease in consulting professional services, partially offset by an increase of $5,000 in compensation costs and office expenses for time and materials allocated by operations personnel to research and development activities and a $1,000 decrease in jewel research testing, partially offset by a $1,000 increase in professional services.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:

 Three Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
Interest expense $5  $767  $(762)  -99% $1,512  $784  $728   93%

Interest expense was approximately $0 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $1,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of approximately $1,000, or 99%. Interest expense was approximately $2,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $1,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of materials specifically purchasedapproximately $1,000, or 93%.

The decrease in interest expense for these activities.the three months ended June 30, 2016 resulted primarily from the interest charged on amounts due for late filings of compliance returns in various sales and use tax jurisdictions around the country in the prior period which were not incurred in the current period.

The increase in interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 resulted primarily from the interest charged on the balance of amounts due for late filings of compliance returns in various sales and use tax jurisdictions around the country during the period.  These interest charges were realized at the time of filing once we were able to complete the registration and filing process, and to compile accurate information for future timely filings.
Loss on Abandonment of AssetsProperty and Equipment

Loss on abandonment of assetsproperty and equipment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Change Six Months Ended June 30, Change 
 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 2016 2015 Dollars  Percent 
Loss on abandonment of property and equipment $115,548  $-  $115,548   100% $115,548  $-  $115,548   100%

Loss on abandonment of property and equipment was $116,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $0 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, and 2014 are as follows:an increase of approximately $116,000, or 100%.

 Three Months Ended June 30,ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,Change
 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 2015 2014 Dollars  Percent 
Loss on abandonment of assets $-  $-  $-   -% $-  $2,201  $(2,201)  -100%

Loss on abandonment of assets was $0 forIn the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to $2,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $2,000, or 100%.

For the six months ended June 30, 2014,2016, we abandoned a trademark with remaining carrying costs of $2,000 after we determined the trademark would no longer be utilized.construction in progress related to website branding and design for our direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, Moissanite.com, due to a change in our corporate strategy to consolidate our web properties.

Provision for Income Taxes

We recognized an income tax net expense of approximately $3,000$3,500 and $3,200 for the three monthsthree-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, compared to an income tax net expense of approximately $4.15 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.respectively. We recognized an income tax net expense of approximately $6,000$6,700 and $6,300 for the six monthssix-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, comparedrespectively. Income tax provisions in these periods primarily relate to an incomeestimated tax, net expense of $4.05 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.

As of each reporting date, management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact its view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. Management had previously considered various strategic alternatives that would reduce its pre-tax operating losses, resulting in management determining that a valuation allowance was not necessary at March 31, 2014.  During the three months endedAs of June 30, 2014,2016 and December 31, 2015, management determined that such strategic alternatives were no longer in our best interest.  Accordingly, management concluded that thesufficient positive evidence was no longer sufficientcontinued to offset available negative evidence, primarily as a result of the pre-tax operating losses incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2014, and forecastedexist to continue through the remainder of 2014.  As a result, management concluded thatconclude it was uncertain that we would have sufficient future taxable income to utilize our deferred tax assets, and therefore, we establishedmaintained a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets resulting in a tax expense of $4.15 million and $4.05 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively.  This valuation allowance remained as of June 30, 2015.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, we recognized $3,000 and $6,000, respectively, of income tax expense for estimated tax, penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, we also recognized approximately $3,000 and $6,000, respectively, of income tax expense for estimated tax, penalties, and interest associated with uncertain tax positions.assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We require cash to fund our operating expenses and working capital requirements, including outlays for capital expenditures. As of June 30, 2015,2016, our principal sources of liquidity were cash and cash equivalents totaling $5.25$11.11 million, trade accounts receivable of $4.46$2.23 million, and current inventory of $13.40$10.12 million, as compared to cash and cash equivalents totaling $4.01$5.27 million, trade accounts receivable of $5.51$3.85 million, and current inventory of $13.32$10.74 million as of December 31, 2014.2015.  As described more fully below, we also have access to aour $10 million credit facility.Credit Facility.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, our working capital increased by approximately $4.34 million to $20.37 million from $16.03 million at December 31, 2015. As described more fully below, the increase in working capital at June 30, 2016 is primarily attributable to an increase in our cash and cash equivalents due to our increased cash from operations, a decrease in trade accounts payable, an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, a net decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities and a decrease in accrued cooperative advertising.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in trade accounts receivable and a decreased allocation of inventory to short-term from long-term.
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2015, our working capital decreased by approximately $49,000 to $19.20 million from $19.25 million at December 31, 2014. As described more fully below, the decrease in working capital at June 30, 2015 is primarily attributable to a decrease in trade accounts receivable, a net increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities, and an increase in trade accounts payable, offset in part by an increase in our cash and cash equivalents due to our increased cash from operations, an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, a decrease in accrued cooperative advertising, and a greater allocation of inventory to short-term.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, $1.272016, $6.52 million of cash was provided by continuing operations and $935,000 of cash was used in discontinued operations. The primary drivers of positive cash flow were a decrease in inventory of $3.79$6.19 million and a decrease in trade accounts receivable of $1.61 million, a net increase in accrued liabilities of $567,000, and an increase in trade accounts payable of $28,000.$1.98 million.  These factors were partially offset by our lossa decrease in trade accounts payable of $5.73 million that included $1.27 million of non-cash expenses and$260,000, an increase in prepaid expenses of $264,000.$171,000, and our loss of $1.7 million that included $741,000 of non-cash expenses, and a decrease in accrued liabilities of $227,000.  Accounts receivable decreased primarily as a result of collection efforts during the first six months of 20152016 on sales made in the third and fourth quarterquarters of 2014, and a significant reduction of2015.  We did not offer any extended wholesale customer payment terms thatduring the six months ended June 30, 2016; however, we may offer these terms from time to time, thatwhich may not immediately increase liquidity as a result of current-period sales. We believe our competitors and other vendors in the wholesale jewelry industry have expanded their use of extended payment terms and, in aggregate, we believe that by offeringthrough our use of extended payment terms, under certain circumstances, we have provided a competitive response in our market and that our net sales have been favorably impacted.  We are unable to estimate the impact of this program on our net sales, but if we ceased providing extended payment terms in select instances, we believe we would not be competitive for some wholesale customers in the marketplace and that our net sales and profits would likely decrease. Generally, we have not experienced any significant accounts receivable write-offs related to revenue arrangements with extended payment terms; however, we have previously increased our reserves for uncollectible accounts primarily due to one customer with extended terms and recently beganare pursuing legal proceedings to collect on the outstanding balances.balance.  We do not believe the terms are a factor with this customer’s non-payment.  Inventories decreased primarily as a result of sales, including a $6.77 million sale of slow-moving jewels to our largest customer, offset in part by the purchase of new raw material SiC crystals during the quarterfirst half of the year pursuant to our new exclusive supply agreement, or the New Supply Agreement, with Cree, Inc., or Cree, which we entered into on December 12, 2014;Agreement; purchases of jewelry castings, findings, and other jewelry components; and production of moissanite loose jewels.  Prepaid expenses and other assets increased primarily as a result of the timing of payment of insurance premiums,premium payments and other payments in advance of goods or services received.  Accounts payable increaseddecreased primarily as a result of the timing of costs incurred but not yet paid as of June 30, 20152016 associated with inventory-related purchases and professional services incurred but not yet due under our vendors’ payment terms.

We manufactured approximately $3.19$4.53 million in loose jewels and $2.88$2.00 million in finished jewelry, which includes the cost of the loose jewels and the purchase of precious metals and labor in connection with jewelry production, during the six months ended June 30, 2015.2016.  We expect our purchases of precious metals and labor to increase as we increase our finished jewelry business. In addition, from the beginning of 2006 through the second quarter of 2015,2016, the price of gold has increased significantly (approximately 121%151%), resulting in higher retail price points for gold jewelry. Because the market price of gold and other precious metals is beyond our control, the upward price trends could continue and have a negative impact on our operating cash flow as we manufacture finished jewelry.

Historically, our raw material inventories of SiC crystals had been purchased under exclusive supply agreements with a limited number of suppliers. Because the supply agreements restricted the sale of these crystals exclusively to us, the suppliers negotiated minimum purchase commitments with us that, when combined with our reduced sales during the periods when the purchase commitments were in effect, have resulted in levels of inventories that are higher than we might otherwise maintain. As of June 30, 2015, $21.122016, $15.96 million of our inventories were classified as long-term assets. Loose jewel sales and finished jewelry that we manufacture will utilize both the finished good loose jewels currently on-hand and, as we deplete certain shapes and sizes, our on-hand raw material SiC crystals of $6.10$4.55 million and new raw material that we are purchasing from Cree.pursuant to the Supply Agreement.

In connection with the prior exclusive supply agreement with Cree, or the Cree Exclusive Supply Agreement, which was set to expire in July 2015, we had committed to purchase from Cree a minimum of 50%, by dollar volume, of our raw material SiC crystal requirements. In February 2013, we entered into an amendment to a prior letter agreement with Cree, which provided a framework for our purchases of SiC crystals under the Cree Exclusive Supply Agreement. Pursuant to this amendment, we agreed to purchase at least $4.00 million of SiC crystals in an initial new order. After the initial new order, we agreed to issue non-cancellable, quarterly orders that must equal or exceed a set minimum order quantity. Our total purchase commitment under the amendment (as subsequently amended) until July 2015, including the initial new order, was dependent upon the grade of the material and ranged between approximately $7.64 million and approximately $18.56 million.
On December 12, 2014, we entered into the New Supply Agreement which superseded and replaced (with respect to materials ordered subsequent to the effective date of the New Supply Agreement) thewith Cree, Exclusive Supply Agreement.our raw material SiC crystal supplier.  Under the New Supply Agreement, subject to certain terms and conditions, we agreed to exclusively purchase from Cree, and Cree agreed to exclusively supply, 100% of our required SiC materials in quarterly installments that must equal or exceed a set minimum order quantity. The initial term of the New Supply Agreement will expire on June 24, 2018, unless extended by the parties. We also have one option to unilaterally extend the term of the agreement for an additional two-year period, subject to certain conditions.  Our total purchase commitment under the New Supply Agreement until June 2018 is dependent upon the size of the SiC material and ranges between approximately $29.6 million and approximately $31.5 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015,2016, we purchased approximately $3.05$3.82 million of SiC crystals from Cree. We expect to use existing cash and cash equivalents and other working capital, together with future cash expected to be provided by operating activities and, if necessary, our credit facility described below,Credit Facility, to finance our purchase commitment under the NewSupply Agreement.
On July 14, 2016, Cree announced that it had entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Infineon Technologies AG, or Infineon, pursuant to which Infineon will purchase certain portions of Cree’s SiC materials and gemstones business.  The transaction, which Cree indicated is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2016, contemplates that the Supply Agreement, including all rights and obligations under the Supply Agreement, will be assigned by Cree to Infineon.  We do not expect the transaction to have a material effect on our supply of SiC materials and, together with Cree, we are conducting certain transition planning to prepare for the transfer of the Supply Agreement.

We made no income tax payments during the six months ended June 30, 2015.2016.  As of June 30, 2015,2016, we had approximately $882,000 of remaining federal income tax credits, $533,000 of which expire between 2018 and 2021 and the balance without an expiration, which can be carried forward to offset future income taxes. As of June 30, 2015,2016, we also had a federal tax net operating loss carryforward of approximately $5.56$12.1 million expiring between 2020 and 2033,2034, which can be used to offset against future federal taxable income,income. In addition, we had a North Carolina tax net operating loss carryforward of approximately $11.12$18.05 million expiring between 2023 and 2028,2030, and various other state tax net operating loss carryforwards expiring between 2016 and 2033,2034, which can be used to offset against future state taxable income.

On June 25, 2014, we and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Charles & Colvard Direct, LLC and Moissanite.com, LLC, collectively referred to as the Borrowers, obtained a $10,000,000 asset-based revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility from Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, or Wells Fargo. The Credit Facility willmay be used for general corporate and working capital purposes, including transaction fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith and the issuance of letters of credit up to a $1,000,000 sublimit. The Credit Facility will mature on June 25, 2017.

The Credit Facility includes a $5,000,000 sublimit for advances that are supported by a 90% guaranty provided by the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Advances under the Credit Facility are limited to a borrowing base, which is computed by applying specified advance rates to the value of the Borrowers’ eligible accounts and inventory, less reserves. Advances against inventory are further subject to an initial $3,000,000 maximum. We must maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 in excess availability at all times. There are no other financial covenants.

Each advance accrues interest at a rate equal to Wells Fargo’s 3-month LIBOR rate plus 2.50%, calculated on an actual/360 basis and payable monthly in arrears. Principal outstanding during an event of default accrues interest at a rate of 3% in excess of the above rate. Any advance may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. In addition, the maximum line amount may be reduced by us in whole or part at any time, subject to a fee equal to 2% of any reduction in the first year after closing, 1% of any reduction in the second year after closing, and 0% thereafter. There are no mandatory prepayments or line reductions.

The Credit Facility is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of the Borrowers, each of which is jointly and severally liable for all obligations thereunder.  Wells Fargo’s security interest in certain SiC materials is subordinate to Cree’sthe security interest in such materials pursuant to the New Supply Agreement and an Intercreditor Agreement with Wells Fargo.

The Credit Facility is evidenced by a credit and security agreement dated as of June 25, 2014 and amended as of September 16, 2014 and December 12, 2014, or the Credit Agreement, and customary ancillary documents. The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, representations and cash dominion provisions, including a financial reporting covenant and limitations on dividends, distributions, debt, contingent obligations, liens, loans, investments, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, subsidiaries, affiliate transactions, and changes in control.
Events of default under the Credit Facility include, without limitation, (1) any impairment of the Export-Import Bank guaranty, unless the guaranteed advances are repaid within two business days, (2) an event of default under any other indebtedness of the Borrowers in excess of $200,000, and (3) a material adverse change in the ability of the Borrowers to perform their obligations under the Credit Agreement or in the Borrowers’ assets, liabilities, businesses or prospects, or other circumstances that Wells Fargo believes may impair the prospect of repayment. If an event of default occurs, Wells Fargo is entitled to take enforcement action, including acceleration of amounts due under the Credit Agreement and foreclosure upon collateral.

The Credit Agreement contains other customary terms, including indemnity, expense reimbursement, yield protection, and confidentiality provisions.  Wells Fargo is permitted to assign the Credit Facility.

As of June 30, 2015,2016, we had not borrowed against the Credit Facility.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and other working capital, together with future cash expected to be provided by operating activities, will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs over the next 12 months. Our future capital requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including our rate of sales growth; the expansion of our sales and marketing activities, including the operating capital needs of our wholly owned subsidiaries;activities; the timing and extent of raw materials and labor purchases in connection with loose jewel production to support our moissanite jewel business and precious metals and labor purchases in connection with jewelry production to support our finished jewelry business; the timing of capital expenditures; and risk factors described in more detail in “Risk Factors” in this report, and in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015, and in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterquarterly period ended March 31, 2015.2016.  We obtained the Credit Facility to mitigate these risks to our cash and liquidity position.  Also, we may make investments in, or acquisitions of, complementary businesses, which could also require us to seek additional equity or debt financing.

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We routinely review our internal control over financial reporting and from time to time make changes intended to enhance the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis and will take action as appropriate. During the three months ended June 30, 2015,2016, we made no changes to our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, that we believe materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.

Item 1A.Risk Factors

We discuss in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 20152016 various risks that may materially affect our business.   There have been no material changes to such risks.risks, except as set forth below and that the risk factor relating to our President and Chief Executive Officer transition is no longer applicable because we have successfully completed the transition.

Our business and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of our inability to fulfill orders on a timely basis. As sales of our loose moissanite jewels increase, including our Forever Brilliant® and Forever OneTM jewels, certain shapes and sizes may be at risk for depletion. In addition, finished jewelry has a large variety of styles of which we maintain on-hand stock for such basic designs as stud earrings, solitaire and three-stone rings, pendants, and bracelets; and make-to-order under strict deadlines for certain wholesale and direct-to-consumer e-commerce customers. We must adequately maintain relationships, forecast demand, and operate within the lead times of third parties that facet and/or enhance the jewels and manufacture the finished jewelry setting to ensure adequate on-hand quantities and/or the shipment of customer orders in a timely manner. In addition, we are currently dependent on two vendors for all of the faceting of our loose jewels. If one or both of these vendors were to cancel their arrangements with us, we could experience a disruption in our operations and incur additional costs to procure faceting services from a replacement vendor. The inability to fulfill orders on a timely basis and within promised customer deadlines could result in a cancellation of the orders and loss of customer goodwill that could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Our operations could be disrupted by natural disasters. We conduct substantially all of our activities, including executive management, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution activities, at one North Carolina location.  Although we have taken precautions to safeguard our facility, including obtaining business interruption insurance, any future natural disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, or fire, could significantly disrupt our operations and delay or prevent product shipment during the time required to repair, rebuild, or replace our facility, which could be lengthy and result in significant expenses. Furthermore, the insurance coverage we maintain may not be adequate to cover our losses in any particular case or continue to be available at commercially reasonable rates and terms. In addition, the vendors that perform all of the faceting of our loose moissanite jewels are located in regions that are susceptible to tsunamis, flooding, and other natural disasters that may cause a disruption in our vendors’ operations for sustained periods and the loss or damage of our work-in-process inventories located at such vendors’ facilities. Damage or destruction that interrupts our ability to deliver our products could impair our relationships with our customers. Prolonged disruption of our services as a result of a natural disaster may result in product delivery delays, order cancellations, and loss of substantial revenue, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Item 6.Exhibits

The following exhibits are being filed herewith and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
10.1Charles & Colvard, Ltd. 2015 Senior Management Equity2008 Stock Incentive Program, effective January 1, 2015Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 8, 2015)20, 2016)
 
10.2Charles & Colvard, Ltd. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 21, 2015)
  
31.1Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  
31.2Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  
32.1Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32.2Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
101The following materials from Charles & Colvard, Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 20152016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  CHARLES & COLVARD, LTD.
   
 By:/s/ H. Marvin BeasleySuzanne T. Miglucci
August 7, 20154, 2016 H. Marvin BeasleySuzanne T. Miglucci
  President and Chief Executive Officer
   
 By:/s/ Kyle S. Macemore
August 7, 20154, 2016 Kyle S. Macemore
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)
 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
10.1Charles & Colvard, Ltd. 2015 Senior Management Equity2008 Stock Incentive Program, effective January 1, 2015Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 8, 2015)20, 2016)
 
10.2Charles & Colvard, Ltd. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 21, 2015)
  
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  
Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
101The following materials from Charles & Colvard, Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 20152016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
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